Splendidula - Absentia

Splendidula is a blackened doom metal band from Belgium, who formed in 2008.  Their latest album, “Absentia,” is their fourth full-length album.

This album is hypnotic and engaging in a unique way but also born out of tragedy.  “Absentia,” was created during a dark period for the band, where they lost several loved ones, including bassist Peter Chromiak.  These devastating events would bring anyone to their knees but “Absentia,” sees the band using their talent to speak of the emotions and turmoil of these tragedies while also rising up to write what is their best album yet. 

Kristien Cools is the album’s MVP—she is constantly improving and her vocals are at the next level.  Her cleans are so unique, weird and fragile in these best ways but also profoundly emotive.  Her extreme vocals are quite arresting and even what I might call frightening. 

The band matches her fervor with a performance that swings from blackened violence to doomed grief, bringing elements of the dim light of hope that exists on the edges of sorrow to the macabre certainly of loss and grief. 

The first song is highlighted by Tim Yatras’ own clean (and extreme) vocals that pair greatly with Cools that I wouldn’t be disappointed if they did an entire album together.  They play off each other in ways that must be heard because I can’t fully describe how potent the two of them are together.  The doomy, atmospheric beginning is more engrossing that music this depressing has a right to be but if you’re coming for that, you’ll stay for the black metal infused mid-section where the two vocalists sing/scream their asses off.  Oh and those crisp drums and searing riffs will rip you in half even as you feel for the band’s losses. 

Another guest, the legendary Aaron Stainthorpe, is on the second song, “Echoes of Quiet Remain.”  Much like with Yatras’, Cools’ performance is perfectly intertwined with Aaron they both give quite possibly the best vocal performances on the album.  Aaron sounds goddamn amazing on this song and the chorus is massive.  Let’s also add Aaaron to that wishful thinking album I spoke about earlier.   While these two burst my ears by bursting their lungs, the band provides chunky rhythms, brutal rhythms, and a sound that rides the line between crushing doom and atmospheric black metal.  

“Donkerte,” is the first song with Cools alone and, not that she needed to prove it, but is more than capable (as always).  I like the flow of this song a lot—it is heavy, of course, but not aggressive.  This embracement of doom while showing off a different side compared to the first two songs is compelling.  I like the subtle intricacies of the keys and melodic bass too.  The guitars are suffocating but not in a deathly way while the drums showcase their deep tone. 

I suppose “Dalkuldar,” could be the ballad of the songs but it’s more like a short tragedy, the entire instrumentation pulling on the heart strings.  Cools’ vocals are like a force of nature, truly melding into the music like an oncoming storm.  Putting this song before the far more aggressive “Kilte,” was a smart choice because it makes both of the songs all the more potent as each of them focuses on a different trajectory in terms of presentation.  “Kilte,” is one of the more direct songs, at least in the beginning,” and Cools gets a chance to show off her raspy blackened growls.  The middle passage is delicate, feeling the song is about to break apart into the wind itself but returns with a whirlwind hurricane all things blackened doom. 

“Let it Come to an End,” is the final song and it is a banger.  Once again, Cools’ cleans are so goddamn unique and her extremes are convincing and just as much of a pleasure to behold.  After a smartly written atmo passage, the band rages out from the 5:14 mark all the way to the finish line—ending the album explosively. 

Splendidula’s “Absentia,” is an emotionally charged album with miles of depth to be explored, effectively welding feelings as a weapon and combining extreme styles in a smart way to offer something that is truly life and death, beauty and beast.  Highly recommended. 

Rating: Excellent