An old practice where the true name of a god is learned to harness its power has been reaped in the US by blackened occultists ONE MASTER, whose first full-length grimoire since 2017 has now clawed its way into our material domain, and their mastery in dark arts takes effect as it matches this force behind names and words on the sonic plane. These qualities are reflected at multiple levels in The Names of Power, a work incorporating some newer dynamics while the raw and chaotic spirit of past conjurations is kept fiercely enthroned, and they formulate visceral and entrancing structures along with other aural elements to drive mesmeric songcraft. The deepest concentrations are attained through each successive act on The Names of Power, and the tonal array evoked within creates a striking exploration of the mysteries.
Arcane forces advance on “The First Names,” where a production shrouded in ethereal rawness instantly transports consciousness to otherworldly planes, and tremolo melodies are found heightening an evocative factor at points within their havoc. Progressions follow from blasting onslaught to a double-kicked stride that perfectly fits the drop into brooding riff dissonance, and this arrangement bears down with an intensity paralleled by the energies projected vocally, along with comparatively elegant alterations to ultimately compound the menace. An adept craft is exhibited through this exchange between contrary tones, which culminates toward an entrancing flow that is slowly engulfed in other forms of spectral madness, and similar disturbances are channeled steadily among the distinct mid-paces of “The Forbidden Names.” These rhythms accentuate various malign vibrations while also escalating to more frantic sections, and they keep the fury at hand alongside elevated tremolo intervals and dreary punctuating notes. Rhythmic influences persist during “The Secret Names,” with its essence marked in slower conjurings of desolation and dread, and more fragmented patterns are distinguished with string resonations glaring between the beats. The tonal merging described previously is revisited in the melodic descent of one particular riff, but the darkest levels are favored when dismal auras congeal decisively around the mass.
The impact of different rhythms is vitalized when “The Solitary Names” resurges in wrath, with this change after the dejected paths of the last track having a complementary effect on both, and some slightly upbeat grooving passages are integrated that bring another dynamic to the storm. Awareness is drawn toward its depths as the harsh and dissonant elements are gathered into an impenetrable rush, and it relents for drumming that becomes militarized to herald a solo, which further pinpoints chaos through the derangement and frenzy of its shapes. “The Celestial Names” strides along fittingly with a splendor pronounced among its riffs, and their flow is enhanced by the sharpened timing of certain progressions that combine with others for a spellbinding effect. This subsides momentarily for a conjuring of ancient scenes, where sounds of steel clashing in battle parallel the grimness channeled across the orchestrations, and they heighten an immersive aspect in the atmosphere before acoustic notes capture another level of influence on “The Final Names.” These proceed alongside distorted variations to create a uniquely solemn tone for this finale, and its extensive course evolves with portions of fury and entrancement, along with a haunted ambient encounter that reflects powers wielded completely to seal a compelling end.
The power behind words and language is central to this work, and the lyrics follow consistently as different subjects take focus during each rite, with a religious perspective on “The First Names” portraying a deific essence at different levels that “Smite and cure kill and bring to life.” Darker forms of devotion appear in “Smoke of sacrifice order of the temple,” and a “Terrible language” is also mentioned, along with “The word is incarnate possess the keys” reflecting the main concept. The verses are composed of cryptic phrases that often seem to carry independent points and are difficult to decipher, but their configurations here ultimately suggest a purpose behind that possession being to “Contain the whole world.” This attainment leads to the heretical acts of “The Forbidden Names,” where “The sign of evil” is exalted amid a “Dreadful summoning,” and its wrath is directed at the weak while “Magick of the Will” is seized to “Fly by the night, among the seven planets.” Symbolism like this classic astrological reference heightens the overall mystery, and it extends to “The stone of ancient faith” shielded by a “Cult of the maze” on “The Secret Names.” They “Circumspect the sacred word” in another allusion to lingual power, and this persists with a “Worthy tongue, arousing fire,” which also combines it with an element recurring notably across the tracks. Its significance continues symbolically through the eternal fire of “First feather of the salamander,” and the “Stone of eagles” is joined to possibly note the effect of that fire on aetites.
Symbolic features also abound during “The Solitary Names,” with the “Sombre figure of Saturn” expressing its seclusion while a spirit is represented in the “Old stag” and other animalistic forces. A “Dead land, vengeful ghost” merges atmosphere with its malign character, and there are suggestions of it harnessing “Proper nature, occult science” to gain mastery over volition and various conscious states. Higher regions of the universe are then pursued on “The Celestial Names,” which remain somewhat obscured around the chaos perceived in “Arcane secrets of the galactic fight” and “Windings of the stars, unequal and rising.” These occur amid influences from the sun and left-hand inclinations driven toward a last illumination on “The Final Names,” where concentrated features surround the free will of one transforming “With no fate,” and a “Bold new man” is envisioned for this modern incarnation, but “Without a lord, cannot change” may allude to an inability to evolve without first awakening the higher self. Some lines look to oppose the institutions claiming sole authority in this endeavor, and when “The temple empties,” many questions remain on what the next stage will be. There is certainly a wealth of material to contemplate with many passages left untouched here, and though my understanding is limited, and interpretation should be taken up individually, their concept of seizing available forces to achieve the highest potential radiates clearly through.
The Names of Power is an undoubtedly vicious return, with its expansion on the greatest attributes from past works joined alongside other elements to mark what is possibly ONE MASTER’s magnum opus, at least so far, and they succeed in evoking a myriad of grand and malign spirits within its gloriously raw sound. Many of these encounters are assisted through a notable rhythmic versatility, demonstrating the vast influence those structures are able to contribute to the compositions, and they take the energy to new levels while keeping it primal along with precise ambient and acoustic doses. The harsher frenzied exercises are of course another key factor to the atmospheric immersion, and their devastation inflicts oppressive and alluring points of disharmony across the mass, which ultimately carves an arcane and soul-consuming venture for 2023 that continues resonating throughout the nether realms.
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