### Code: Resplendent grotesque

#### 30/06/09 || Euthanatos

Ah, the love/hate relationship that is black metal. It’s either ridiculously extreme, elitist and borderline homosexual, or it is full-on homosexual (and not black metal at all). But, once in a blue moon, comes a band that takes everything that is black metal, puts it on its head and delivers a thing of sheer beautiful mayhem. Code is one of those impressive, fantastic bands, as is Dødheimsgard, which released the otherworldly and godlike “Supervillain outcast” (which I drool over here).But why the fuck am I talking about Dødheimsgard so much? Well, up until a while back the two bands shared the same vocalist, Kvohst, and he happens to be a great reason of why I love those bands so much, and particularly this new album, “Resplendent Grotesque”.

If you’re familiar with Code, or Dødheimsgard, for that matter, you somewhat know what to expect of “Resplendent Grotesque”. If not, allow me to shed some light unto your darkened and pathetic skull; Code plays a kind of metal that is very rare and complex. It’s unabashedly black metal, with it’s cold, nihilistic riffs, but it breaks all barriers and conventions by inserting Arcturian (that’s Arcturus-like, mind you) vocals and atmospheric passages that make you feel like you’re buried deep within a desolate landscape. If you dig upwards, you will hardly find solace in the barren wasteland, ashes scattered to the wind and all manner of strange, disquieting vegetation. Alas, if you dig deeper, going further and further down, your horrors might even be worse. Corrupted and deformed beasts await there, and they are well acquainted with the dark parts of the soul. Pick your poison and tread carefully, non-believer!

Disturbing and often surreal lyrics are exquisitely sung by the emperor of twisted voices, Kvohst. And when you can take no more, it is with angelic peacefulness that he’ll fill your head with calmness. Code stretches the black metal spectrum so boldly, I can’t help but thinking of pioneers like Emperor while listening to them. No, the bands are nothing alike, but the balls in both are quite similar.

It takes courage and nerves not only to make this kind of black metal, but also to listen to it. To allow yourself to be stripped of all preconceived notions and dogmas. This is diving into the abyss head-on, fear and joy grasping your heart at the same time.

It takes a lot of patience, a lot of attention to get this, but once you do, I’m quite certain you’re not letting it go. Code will have claimed another soul, as it has done mine.

The cover: Hmmm, looks like Michale Graves, former Misfits vocalist, to me. What do you think?

9 grotesques images of the depths out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 2009
- Label: Tabu Recordings
- Website: www.codeblackmetal.co.uk
- Band
- Kvohst: vocals
- Aort: guitar
- Viper: bass, backing vocals
- Adrian Erlandsson: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Smother The Crones
- 02. In The Privacy Of Your Own Bones
- 03. The Rattle Of Black Teeth
- 04. Possession Is The Medicine
- 05. Jesus Fever
- 06. I Hold Your Light
- 07. A Sutra Of Wounds
- 08.The Ascendent Grotesque