Délirant returns with their second album, Thoughteater. They provide no safety here, just wave after wave of oppressive black metal psychedelia, where speed doesn’t offer escape but intensifies the descent. Délirant channels the void with surgical precision, luring the listener into a trance that devours thought, leaving only static, suffocating silence.
With a creeping opening track that shows off the band’s blackened doom roots, it quickly devolves into frantic chaos. A cacophony of swirling riffs, intense blast beats, and hellish vocals to strip away any sort of comfort or familiarity the band may have introduced in their first album. Dropping the raw production and more doom focused song writing, Délirant instead sports a crisp and high fidelity sound backing it with much more speed and ferocity. There’s much more of a death metal influence in its sound. Brutality, speed, and atmospheric technicality that many underground acts wish they could compete with.
Their masterful skill and handling of musical atmosphere is very apparent in this release. While the instrumentation can create a thick wall of sound at times, there are smaller details hidden beneath this wall that you won’t notice the first time around, but really builds the foreboding and somewhat psychedelic atmosphere this album builds. For example, each track starts with the ringing of a singing bowl or perhaps bell, that is swirling in a void like soundscape, the start of a dark and twisted meditation on chaos.
I found the band’s new approach to be much more appealing compared to their previous release. While their debut self-titled was just as engaging, it felt too hazy and slow, driving the listener into a dark slumber rather than embracing the chaotic fervor of Thoughteater. This fresher production also I think can also be more appealing to the more casual listener, while still keeping their sharp edge for the more experienced extreme metal occultist.
This release I’ve found incredibly engaging and I’m never disappointed with the brain behind the band, who simply goes by D.B. His works behind other acts like Hässlig and Negativa are equally as engaging and I always speak of those acts in very high regard. Délirant is no different, and those who are willing to embrace the noise and chaos, should certainly look into this release, and others. For me, Délirant is another reminder of why D.B. stands out in today’s extreme metal landscape. His vision remains distinct, and I’m always curious to hear where it leads next.