"From Arcane Fires" is probably one of the weirdest albums I've ever heard. Overall, Anael comes off as a mysterious group of black metal warriors drenched in the cryptic slime of the occult through bizarre shoegaze influences and an obvious nod to the minimalist side of musical progression. Anael likewise runs on a tank fueled by sheer atmosphere and personified darkness captured throughout hypnotic repetition with a lean edge of noteworthy black metal, which, despite its clear descent into doom, remains surprisingly intriguing, albeit at a high cost, bartered for better or for worse: the time and patience of the listener. The record itself is so self-fulfilling in its own creepiness that you can actually feel your body eroding beneath the abstract minimalism provided by these occulted guardians; it really is that spooky.Obviously, the group's partnership with minimalism yields just that: simple riffs, easy percussion, predictable vocals, circling structures, endless repetition, and hardly any appreciation for fast, technical, or blazing instrumental work. Being the opus is an hour and only seven tracks, one can conclude each song is very long for a band using hardly anything and with a lot of repetition; this is the best and worst quality of "From Arcane Fires." On one hand, the atmosphere and hypnotic waves transmitted through the droning cycle of instrumental bleakness seems gaspingly good, yet sometimes I simply can't stand it. Musically, for whatever its worth, this is not a bad listen, but the flavor depends deeply on the taste buds of the listener. Hell, I'm not even sure if I can decipher whether or not the flames are sour or sweet, but one thing remains certain: it seldom morphs.
But traditionally speaking, there isn't anything disappointing about the band's musical revenue once the album becomes a natural listen and not something totally unknown. There are instances when Anael drops the ball and begins rolling into a mess of violent tremolo riffs, rocketing double-bass pedals, and sharp shrieks without a sign of doing so; just a bloody charge into totally unpredictable territory, especially for this release. A lot of the riffs and percussion patterns these guys use are surprisingly good, and Anael's music seemingly becomes more complicated and earthly once the listener adapts to the weird nature of "From Arcane Fires."
Anael haven't created a typical release in any sense; instead, they've given birth to an unknown creature defying written rules for something entirely new and forlorn. I've realized "From Arcane Fires" requires a very special taste in order to enjoy it on a higher level that I simply cannot reach; however, that doesnt change the good words aimed at Anael's grotesque approach into the macabre and hazy. Overall, I'd say "From Arcane Fires" is an impressive listen that deserves a casual spin when the time is right for such a delirious offering, but who knows? It could be one of your all-time favorites if it sounds interesting to you, but this guy? Nah, not so much.