Sex Messiah "Sexus-Mortem, Ouroboros" CD

When I heard the production schedule for this work, I genuinely wondered for a while, "Is SEX MESSIAH's creative imagination unbridled? Or is the savior rushing through life?" And I also felt a little anxious. I worried that pushing ahead too much with a plan and schedule might lead to compromises in the work. Of course, zero compromise is impossible in any artist's work, but Moenos is one of the musicians I know who is furthest from compromise. However, things didn't always go smoothly, and by the time I heard the completion report, seeing hints of Moenos's struggles, I was convinced that my anxiety was unnecessary. That's because I believe true heartfelt emotion cannot be stirred by expressions devoid of struggle.

First, I want to emphasize that the tension of "Metal del Chivo," which left not only SEX MESSIAH fans but also black metal enthusiasts from various quarters stunned by its awakening, is brilliantly maintained in "Sexus-Mortem Ouroboros." If you're already thinking, "Don't lecture me," then you don't need to follow my subsequent analysis at all; this is an album you can immediately play and thoroughly enjoy. The contribution of Abaddrums "SEXXX" Grinder, who, despite being buried in explosive sound, delivers genuine South American metal-style beats that are chaotic yet surprisingly solid in their structural support, is once again high. With his assistance, Moenos's vocals, now in Spanish, are filled with a madness that makes you flinch.

And what I immediately felt from the first listen was that the noisy, explosive sound of the guitar, emblematic of black metal's harshness, now seems to have an amplified fuzziness, making the psychedelic aspect even more distinct than in previous works. Moenos's electronic approach reportedly has its origins in the Kansai underground psychedelia he experienced firsthand for many years. Therefore, unlike doom metal, which uses traditional rock methods, SEX MESSIAH's black metal, while being extreme music that also utilizes electronic approaches, is permeated with a vintage analog feel throughout. This is likely due to the significant influence of Moenos's psychedelic rock foundation. Also, the epic melodies, which previously didn't receive much attention, have become more refined. Yet, this is different from melancholic or sorrowful tones, and in SEX MESSIAH's case, I believe it also stems from psychedelic rock.

You can see the figure of a snake, likely an Ouroboros, but the two people coupling next to it also appear to form the shape of an Ouroboros. If we delve deeper into Mr. 072's jacket art and title, it's as if the Ouroboros symbolizes not something metaphysically fantastical, but rather that the polluted lust of humans harbors all of creation. My rough image of black metal is to stand between the incompatible concepts of spiritualism and nihilism, extracting their extreme qualities to express oneself. If this is a deliberate act, then black metal musicians are clever even while being barbaric fundamentalists. I am once again reminded of this while listening to this lo-fi and delicate, filthy and epic, psycho and nihilistic album by SEX MESSIAH.
(Ryo Okura/Record Boy)