Virus: The Black Flux

Seasons of Mist, 2008

Nationality: Norwegian

Virus is the new vehicle of expression for Czral (Carl-Michael Eide) of Ved Buens Ende and Aura Noir fame - just three years after he fell (or was did he jump?) from the fifth floor of a building in Oslo and after 18 months of operations and rehab. For those of you lucky enough or old enough to remember Ved Buens Ende's masterpiece in the late '90s Written in Waters, which while taking great inspiration from the Norwegian black metal scene was infused with the emotional power of Michael Gira's Swans and the adventure for which Arcturus are known. Virus is rather less metal than this - well in fact it really isn't metal at all, rather a unique fusion of the technical mastery of Voivod, the vocal style of a less theatrical Arcturus and the composition of Talking Heads. Aside from these references, the band list such disparate artists as David Bowie, Nurse With Wound, Paco de Lucia, Leonard Cohen and Darkthrone as favoured listening and the immense web of sound that beguiles and stimulates in copious servings. The album as you might gather from the description of their endeavour is not an immediately gratifying listen and it rewards repeated listens with a more comprehensive understanding of where the band is coming from. However, Virus are an elusive entity that thrive on keeping us on our toes. Long may it continue.