The Black Monolith – Thee I Invoke

Band: The Black Monolith
Title: Thee I Invoke
Label: Independent
Release Date: December 21st, 2024
Country: Greece
Format Reviewed: High-Quality Digital Recording

Do we not hear anything yet of the noise of the gravediggers who are burying God? Do we not smell anything yet of God’s decomposition? Gods too decompose. God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we, murderers of all murderers, console ourselves?

• Friedrich Nietzsche

“Thee I Invoke” is the latest release by Greek dark ambient artist The Black Monolith. The album invites listeners to experience sounds that transcend the boundaries of life, taking them into the depths of their most profound internal emotions. This can be proved with a glance at the cover art, which with its stark simplicity, hints at something far deeper beneath the surface. The pair of crossed, decaying hands, is a powerful yet unsettling image. While hands traditionally symbolize power and protection, these hands convey the opposite: they evoke a sense of mourning, fragility, and invocation, perfectly aligning with the album’s title. The interplay of light and darkness further intensifies its symbolism. The overwhelming shadows conjure feelings of mystery, obscurity, and isolation. Yet, there is a faint beam of light cutting through the darkness. This subtle contrast evokes hope, life, or perhaps the suggestion of a spiritual presence a reminder that even in the void, something lingers or beckons.

The opening track, titled with Greek words meaning “From Everywhere”, begins abruptly, seizing attention with a striking sound. The effect is reminiscent of the mechanical hum that reminded me of Pink Floyd’s “Welcome to the Machine” a sound that suggests the ignition of a mechanism, stirring to life. Amid this backdrop, a male voice emerges, performing a ritual chant. His voice carries an otherworldly resonance, as though it’s emanating from all directions at once, enveloping the listener. It is deeply evocative, invoking a sense of ancient ceremonies or spiritual summoning, and further enhancing the track’s adventurous, otherworldly atmosphere.

“There Is No God Where I Am” begins distinctively from the previous track, introducing a steady, unyielding sound that immediately reminds the desolation of an abandoned place. The atmosphere is heavy, carrying an almost oppressive stillness. Then, the distant voice of a man emerges, chanting once again. This time, it feels even more remote, as if echoing across vast, empty expanses fragile and struggling to break through the dominant sounds that overshadow the voice, amplifying the sense of isolation and tension. “Fire For Sight, Knife For Touch” begins with a subtler, more restrained opening, yet the familiar, thick drone persists, looming like a shadow over the soundscape. As the title suggests, fire emerges as a symbol of wisdom and knowledge. In contrast, the knife signifies strength and honor sharp, precise, and unrelenting. Together, these elements intertwine, creating a balance between enlightenment and raw power, as if the track itself embodies the duality of intellect and will.

“Weighting The Heart” takes a different approach, introducing a melodic undertone. Yet, it is laced with a sense of fear. Meanwhile, the composition grows richer, adding layers of sound that evoke and arouse complex feelings. The track might have drawn inspiration from the ancient Egyptian myth of the Weighing of the Heart. In this ritual, the heart of the deceased was weighed against the feather of Ma’at, the goddess of truth and justice. The feather, a symbol of ultimate virtue, determined the soul’s fate. The journey continues with “This is what the winds are afraid of,” begins softly with a sound akin to wind, distinct from the other tracks. It evokes the vastness of a plain, fostering a profound connection with nature. Gradually, emerging noises build a sense of ritual, accompanied by a monologue running throughout. The track closes with wind-like sounds, perfectly echoing its name. “Rope and Tooth” opens with a high-pitched sound, evoking the disorienting feeling of suddenly waking into a chaotic world. The rope symbolizes a strong connection, while the tooth represents power, suggesting the need to forge bonds to gain strength and confidence amidst the life upheaval. “I Am The Favor Of The Aion” reflects the concept of Eternity as Aion, the Greek deity, represents an eternal concept of time. The emerging, machine-like noise and the overwhelming layers of sound could signify the chaotic and infinite nature of eternity a realm where time collapses into a singular, overwhelming existence. The invocation, with phrases like “thee I invoke,” evokes ritualistic fervor, and the transition from chaos to calm, culminating in complete silence, mirrors the cyclical nature of time and existence as understood in the context of Aion where all begins and ends in an eternal loop.

“Thee I Invoke” visually prepares the listener for the journey ahead: one that explores themes of death, mourning, and the unknown, while leaving space for fleeting glimpses of light and transcendence. 8/10 by Pegah

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