Review of "Mercurial Silence"

I often claim that the best times for the genre have come and gone. In fact, I tend to state the obvious. While this is true on an aggregate level, there are fortunately exceptions on the individual level. Some artists defy time and hype. David Eugene Edwards' first solo album "Hyacinth", released in 2023, was a stellar album. Could this great solo achievement be replicated? The short answer is yes. In fact, I'm overwhelmed. While "Hyacinth" was stripped down to the bone, "Mercurial Silence" pull out all the stops and is filled with fleshy beats and loops (yes, you read right). Still with a distinct gothic vibe. The album gives the concept "bombastic" a new and deeper meaning. It seems like David Eugene Edwards on this album has moved into orientalism and mysticism. And what a musical ride it is; from obscure and poetic references drawing heavily on Armenian and Greek mythology, Christian ascetics, and cosmic imagery to ancient Egyptian symbolism to zoroastrianism, hindu symbolism and Persian deity of infinite time and space. Much to my surprise, I like it (yes, you read right). The best songs are "Sun of Manes", "Uraeus", "Flaxstaff", "Hexameter", "Geush Urwan", "Niuet Shaes", "Doubting Zurvan", "Mithūdṛśā", "Cloud Wolf", "Perfumer" and "Ninefold". Executive summary: this is a brilliant album that will be circulating in my cd player for a long time. This is also a great production. It's all there, the gothic americana mixed with Edwards' brooding and mesmerizing vocals. The sound quality is superb. You can listen to "Mercurial Silence" and buy it in the format of your choice at Bandcamp, just click here (opens in a new window).