When talking about the most consistent and uncompromising projects in Finnish black metal, the name Clandestine Blaze inevitably comes up. Mikko Aspa’s one-man project has always stood for a raw but intellectually sophisticated form of darkness. With Consecration of the Blood, the project delivered a work in 2015 that not only consistently continued the discography, but also perfected it in terms of songwriting and atmosphere.
What immediately stands out when listening to Consecration of the Blood for the first time is the production. In contrast to the chaotic, almost noisy early days of the project, here we find a sound that screams “raw black metal” but is nevertheless surprisingly nuanced. The guitars saw with a dry, almost physically palpable coldness, while the drums stand organically and powerfully in the room. It’s lo-fi, yes, but a chosen lo-fi – an aesthetic means to an end, not a cover-up for incompetence.
Musically, the album moves away from pure speed and towards an almost trance-like malevolence. The riffs are often dissonant and repetitive, creating a hypnotic pull (especially strong in the title track). Clandestine Blaze masters the art of “less is more” here. Instead of dazzling the listener with technical finesse, Aspa relies on archaic structures that drill themselves into the memory like a rusty nail.
There are moments of sluggish mid-tempo that are reminiscent of the great role models of the second wave (such as Darkthrone), but they are always infused with that specific Finnish melancholy and melody that is so typical of the “Finnish sound.” However, this melody is never beautiful; it is threatening, ominous, and deeply misanthropic.
Aspa’s vocals on this album are a highlight in themselves. No high-pitched screeching, but a deep, growling bark and gagging that is completely understandable but seems absolutely inhuman. The vocals don’t lie on top of the music, they seem to break out of it. Lyrically, the album moves in familiar territory – blasphemous rituals, spiritual decay and the rejection of light – but thanks to the convincing performance, this never seems clichéd, but fanatically serious.
Consecration of the Blood is not an album for the background. It is a demanding work that builds a dense, almost suffocating atmosphere. It shows Clandestine Blaze at the peak of their creative powers: the wild energy of their early days has been channeled into a precise, deadly weapon.
For fans of traditional black metal who value atmosphere over glossy production and appreciate the dissonant coldness of Finnish steel, this album is an indispensable masterpiece. It’s ugly, it’s raw, and that’s exactly why it’s beautiful.