Ad Finem Omnia - Senectus Viae

Ad Finem Omnia is a black metal band from Santiago, Chile who formed in 2020.  It’s actually a one-man project now, featuring musician Pablo Vera   Although their demo debut album, “No Peace-No Dawn,” featured Ricardo Araya on bass, guitars, and vocals, this second full-length album, “Senectus Viae,” finds Pablo handling everything after Ricard’s departure.  

He has taken on the responsibilities exceptionally well—everything that made the first album great is still intact and perhaps even better.    This album has such a driving, forward-motion sound to it but also a keen sense of melancholy and atmosphere.  It’s also filled with hooks—this album is catchier that most black metal.  Obviously, I don’t mean that in a ‘pop oriented’ way but the riffs are slick as hell and the rhythms will get your head banging.  Simply put, these songs are quite memorable.

The clean vocals are unique and epic, fitting alongside the blackened screams with easy–both styles complement each other and the music appropriately.  The pacing of the album is top-notch, every song fitting into the placement exactly where it needs to be.  The length helps with this a lot; 8 songs and just under 42 minutes of runtime is the perfect length for black metal.

It’s really hard to say what my favorite songs because they all bring something to the table, with every track offering a standout moment that will earn repeated listens.  The opening riffs of “The Hermit and the Wind,” immediately gripped me.  The guitars are balanced between raw power and melodic tinges, which works in the songs favor because it lets the songs ebb and flow between fast aggressive tendencies and more introspective moments at the drop of a hat.  One such instance is at the 4-minute mark where the rush of adrenaline pulls back for a melancholic clean passage.  I like how the bass stands out in the mix here, boosting these ‘quieter’ moment without taking from it. 

But don’t let your guard down because the album can be as destructive as the most brutal of black metal as “The Leaf that Refused the Light,” proves.  From the first to last second, this song is an energetic, urgent, perpetual battering ram of the mind and senses.  Once again, the bass shows its merit even while the other instruments blaze through.  The middle passage is catchy as hell when everything settles into a groove.  The drums have a great sound to them—full without being too machine-like and overbearing.  

The following song, “Where Existence Fails,” begins just as furiously but the drums have a bit more groove to them and the clean vocals produce one hell of a chorus.  The song is unstoppable as it barrels headfirst out from the chorus but then changes to a melancholic passage that is one of the album’s best, most shining moments.  Oh, and once again: the bass guitar fucking smokes.  

The title track is saved for last—and it’s a burner of an instrumental.   It wastes little time, firing right out of the gate and never loses momentum.  Some of the best, most traditional, riffs of the album can be found across the song’s 6-minute runtime.  The intensity doubles down after the 3:23 mark and rides it all the way to the finish line.  

Ad Finem Omnia’s “Senectus Viae,” is an explosive black metal album with a ton of energy that also has insanely focused songwriting that isn’t afraid to delve into a more melodic side when needed.  This band is definitely in good hands with Pablo the only one at the helm.  

Rating: Great