The Irish masters of depressive black/death metal Scáth Na Déithe are back with a vengeance with their third opus, “Virulent Providence“, released in various formats (CD, LP and tape) by the German label Vendetta Records on the 3rd of February.
Three years after the release of “The Dirge of Endless Mourning” (which we have reviewed here), the new album brings some changes in the Scáth Na Déithe camp, primarily in the line-up. If on the previous releases the band acted as a duo, now it has turned into a one man band, with the founder and main protagonist Cathal Hughes handling all the creative process as well as the instruments and vocals . And if you listen closely, you’ll realize what an amazing job he’s done on this album.
I personally consider “Virulent Providence” both as a continuation of the previous works and as a new chapter in the band’s life. While musically the band walks on the same path they have trodden since “The Horrors of Old” demo (2105), the line-up changes and the album structure come as a new beginning for what Scáth Na Déithe is in 2023.
But before I go into further details about this record I want to mention the stunning album cover, drawn again by Luciana Nedelea, who has worked with the band since the release of their debut album, “Pledge Nothing but Flesh“. The painting captures the essence of the lyrics and the music, highlighting the album’s tragic message.
The album consists of 1 long track, split in two: “Virulent Providence Part I” and “Part II“, with a total duration of 40 minutes. What we are subjected to here is by no means what I’d call happy music or tunes to trigger your party mood. On the contrary, this music is heavy, dark and extremely depressive and can open some doors which you may have wanted to keep locked, for your own sake.
In fact I see this release as a two-headed monster whose gigantic body slowly suffocates and destroys everything it encounters in its wake. The album breathes a sinister, vitriolic atmosphere, spread through Cathal‘s inhuman growling and the monolithic instruments which lash at your senses with every passing minute of this monstrous record. These two songs are a well crafted mixture of styles, where the more dominant black metal elements are wrapped in a death/doom metal veil which gives the album its depressive sound. The use of keyboards and other traditional Irish instruments adds even more gloom to an already mourn-like atmosphere.
Just like the music, the lyrics of “Virulent Providence” don’t wander too far from their precursors, as they deal one more time with the tragedies and the ordeals people had to go through in a not so distant past. According to the official band statement, “the album seeks to explore the manifestations of collective suffering that have been passed down in folk memory.” These lyrics are a way of recollecting certain periods of a painful past, when people channeled their bitter experiences and tragedies into popular beliefs, making sure they will not be forgotten.
“This blessed suffering
Seated always at death’s left hand
No man nor beast
Pass peacefully
Feast on youth
Decay, age and waste“
As any other Scáth Na Déithe album, “Virulent Providence” represents that harsh musical landscape in which human desolation intertwines with folklore and tragedies. The result is a monumental piece of black/death metal art which I think will slowly become a milestone in the extreme metal underground.
Scáth Na Déithe – “Virulent Providence” Tracklist:
- Virulent Providence Part I
- Virulent Providence Part II
Scáth Na Déithe Line Up:
Cathal Hughes – Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Drums, Keyboards
Band links:
https://scathnadeithe.bandcamp.com
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