Review: The Magik Way – 'Curve Sternum'

THE MAGIK WAY
'Curve Sternum'
SAD SUN MUSIC

Esoteric Italian duo The Magik Way have been walking their occult path for nearly 20 years. Originally forming in 1996, the band have only recently signed with Sad Sun Music in order to release their output. First came 2013's collection of promo tracks in the form of 'Materia Occulta 1997-1999', with the band's first full-length album proper 'Curve Sternum' coming this year.

The band create ritual music that blends influences such as Ulver and Einsturzende Neubauten to create visceral but entrancingly haunting pieces. Compared to what we heard on 'Materia Occulta...', with it's use of neoclassical, noise and ethereal elements, for the most part the band's instrumentation on the new album is pretty traditional with acoustic guitars and bass, drums, electric guitars and keyboards blending together to create a folk-influenced metal flavour.

Songs such as 'I Corpi Peasanti', 'A Curva Di Sterno', 'L'Orrore' and 'Il Alto Come In Basso' are perhaps the strongest and most occult feeling amongst the track listing with their down tempo presentation and near tribal rhythms coming together to create an entrancing whole.

There are one or two tracks that don't quite hold up though such as the chant orientated 'Yod-He-Vau-He' and 'Scuotiti, Oh Vita!'. There's nothing wrong with them per se, but they sound a bit safer and more traditionally constructed where they could use some experimental flourishes to set them apart.

In terms of production this is pretty strong. It recalls the likes of Ulver and Hexvessel with it's folk elements and vocals high in the mix with the occasional synth flourishes adding a haunting backdrop to the proceedings. It's stripped-back, straight-forward and does what it needs to do.

'Curve Sternum' is a strong album that the band can build on. It would be nice to hear more experimental flourishes within the music and for them to really build on the occult atmospheres they've fostered rather than simply adding more and more folk elements. But nonetheless this is an intriguing and compelling listen that hints at interesting things to come in the future.  

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Review: The Magik Way - 'Materia Occulta 1997 - 1999'

THE MAGIK WAY
'Materia Occulta 1997 – 1999'
SAD SUN MUSIC

Italian occultists The Magik Way are about as obscure as it can get, so much so that in the thirteen years since the songs on this album were originally released as promos they've recorded nothing else. Initially forming as a black metal outfit in the mid-90s, the band crept into more ambient and ethereal territory which makes up the majority of the collection here.

The first four tracks explore the bands heavier black metal fascinations and sounds, unsurprisingly, like mid-90s black metal complete with some very tinny, low-fi production. While it is catchy in places –  such as 'The Knowledge...' – and does feature some nice use of spoken vocals, it doesn't immediately assert itself, despite the band's occult intentions.
However things get more interesting as the album progresses through tracks like 'Le Maschere di Pietra', 'Gloria', 'La Quiete', and 'Pianto ed Estasi' which all show of an incredibly diverse range; taking in dark ambient, neoclassical, world music, noise and even operatic influences, with plenty of nods to the likes of Dead Can Dance along the way.

In terms of production quality, it is still obviously the product of a shoestring budget, and the heavy reliance on synthesized classical sounds has dated the music substantially. However the songs are well composed and methodically performed which gives them an undeniable allure.

The Magik Way may be an obscure footnote, but with the internet as it is there is always a second chance. If 'Materia Occulta' is a hint at what might have been, it would be interesting for the band to rally round and put those thoughts to rest with some new material.

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