Matheus Vidor burst forth two years ago with Follow the Cold Path, an album that might be able to lay claim to the title of first new age black metal album. Except that he's got a lot more going on than that. I referenced Tiamat (for those old enough to remember) in that review, and this album finds him following that band's path toward greater refinement and less, well, black metal.

Autrest Burning Embers, Forgotten Wolves (self-released)

Yes, there have always been elements of classical music and prog in metal (I mean, ELP in the way back, right?), but Vidor incorporates all of those complex ideas, fuses them with a simple melodic line or two (the new age part) and then shreds with a double bass drum attack and traditional black metal noise scrim.

Unlike Follow the Cold Path, this set is far more introspective. The black metal hasn't been banished, but it is more a punctuating element than the driving one. Vidor clearly wants to make sure that all of his ideas burst forth clearly. And the "second" title track ("Forgotten Wolves") does roar with pleasure.

I've said it over and over again. Metal is the most dynamic and malleable sound in music today. Don't give me any of that "What about hip-hop country?" Pop music will always imitate pop music. Autrest has clear influences, but few artists are as daring to merge beauty and destruction so recklessly. At times it feels like the whole construct is about to collapse. That's when the genius becomes apparent. Yes, I'm a sucker for a grand statement made with bold confidence. But damnit, this stuff is soul-stripping. Lovely and appalling.

Jon Worley