Canis Dirus - By the Grace of Death

Canis Dirus is a black metal band from Minnesota, America that formed in 2008.  Their latest release, “By the Grace of Death” is their fourth full-length album; they have also released an EP and a Split.

Canis Dirus’ style on this album is interesting, to say the least.  On one hand, they embrace a more orthodox style of black metal.  Depending on what part of what song, hearing this album would make  you think it was an old school raw 90’s black metal album.

However, such a description only tells half the story.  At other moments, “By the Grace of Death,” embraces dark atmosphere and cold melodies, unafraid to step outside the box and offer introspective, and perhaps even tender, moments.

It’s an adventurous concoction that is fully embraced and elevated by the expert songwriting.  Each of the six songs across the album’s 38 minute runtime offer something new than one came before but it’s still held together by a consistent and cohesive thought process.

The production is damn near perfect.  The vocals are in the mix at the right spot with just enough echo on the blackened screams to lend it that classic feel.  Musically, the instruments exist in a world of grit and razors but the mix keeps anything from being too muddled.

I am impressed how open the songs are, especially in the atmospheric/melodic moments.  The album lets it all hang out with a vicious blackened style but smartly pulls back on that to let the more expansive movement really move through the songs. 

A violent screen and tight rhythms kick off the beginning of the album’s opening song, “Once Cursed Path Glistens In The Sun.”  The song steadily builds up, the drums doing a great job in keeping the song flowing.  Soon, a sprinkle of ambient textures appear but are absorbed by the coldness of the song–little moments like that, of which there are many across the album, make the album that much better as it gives away its intricate details.

By the time the song reaches the halfway, it’s a cauldron of boiling water that spells over with much vehemence.  As the instruments rage, the keys creep their way in so the back half of the song arrives very naturally with it’s clean tones. 

There is usage of folk elements as well, as evident by “A Forlorn Hymn To Absolution.”  It may be forlorn but it’s also darkly beautiful and emotional, showcasing the band’s desire to expand their blackened veil. The whole track is laced with stellar lead guitar and clever rhythms, the bass pulsing like a  heartbeat. 

“Vultures Whisper” begins just where the previous song leaves off—I feel these two definitely work together as companion pieces.  Much of the folk vibe carries over but this time it’s more dense as the song melds into blackened textures.  The tempo is more laid back but the heavy riffs and drums keep it engaging.  The middle part of the song has a baroque feel to it, a sort of regal elegance that took me by surprise but a pleasant one indeed.

The final song, “The Mind See What The Eyes Cannot” is a banger.  Subtle keys highlight the proceedings, like moonlight on a cloudy evening.  The drums and vocals give it their all, pounding and pushing their way through the fog.  For over half the song, this blackened dirge hits hard but the later half is melodic, a mixture of atmospheric and folk tones that compliment what came before but finish out the song in a way that only this band can.

Canis Dirus’ “By The Grace of Death” is an outstanding album that seeks to honor the blackened ways of olde while also pushing their sound, and genre, forward by incorporating new avenues and paths for the music, and listener, to explore.