Sex Messiah "Sexus-Mortem, Ouroboros" LP (Black vinyl)

When I heard the production schedule for this work, I genuinely wondered for a while if "SEX MESSIAH's creative imagination is unbridled, or is the Savior rushing through life?" and I also felt a little anxious. Would the work be compromised by sticking too rigidly to the plan and schedule? Of course, zero compromise is impossible for any artist and any work, but among the musicians I know, Moenos is the type furthest from compromise. However, things certainly haven't always gone smoothly, and by the time I heard the completion report, seeing glimpses of Moenos's struggles, I was convinced that my anxiety was unnecessary. That's because I believe that without struggle in expression, the heart cannot be truly moved.

First and foremost, I want to strongly emphasize that the tension from "Metal del Chivo," which left not only SEX MESSIAH fans but also black metal enthusiasts from various quarters awe-struck by its awakening, is magnificently maintained in "Sexus-Mortem Ouroboros." If you're already thinking, "Don't lecture me endlessly," then you absolutely don't need to bother with my subsequent analysis; this is an album you can immediately play and thoroughly enjoy. The contribution of Abaddrums "SEXXX" Grinder, whose genuine South American metal-style beats, though buried in loud noise, chaotically yet surprisingly solidly support the structure, is once again high. With his assistance, Moenos's vocals, now with Spanish lyrics, are filled with a madness so intense it makes you flinch.

And what I immediately felt when I first heard it was that the noisy, harsh sound of black metal's emblematic guitars, amplified by an increased fuzziness this time, brings out an even clearer psychedelic aspect than in previous works. Moenos's approach to electronics originates from the Kansai underground psychedelia he experienced directly for many years. Therefore, SEX MESSIAH's black metal, while being extreme music that utilizes electronic approaches rather than traditional rock methods like doom metal, is permeated with a vintage analog feel throughout. This can be attributed to Moenos's strong foundation in psychedelic rock. Furthermore, the epic melodies, which haven't received as much attention until now, have also become more refined. This is not melancholic or sorrowful, but a distinct quality that, in SEX MESSIAH's case, I believe also stems from psychedelic rock.

One can discern the form of a snake, likely an Ouroboros, but it also appears as if the two figures intertwined beside it have become the shape of an Ouroboros. Delving deeper into Mr. 072's jacket art and title, it seems to suggest that the Ouroboros symbolizes not something metaphysically fantastical, but rather that the polluted lust of humanity contains all phenomena. My rough image of black metal is that it positions itself between the irreconcilable notions of spiritualism and nihilism, extracting their extreme qualities to express the self. If this is done with conviction, then black metal musicians are clever despite being barbaric fundamentalists. I'm reaffirming this as I listen to this lo-fi yet delicate, filthy yet epic, psycho yet nihilistic album by SEX MESSIAH. (Ryo Okura / Record Boy)