Crystalium : “De Aeternitate Commando”

You can’t be fascinated by the French black metal scene and not know at least one of the works of Crystalium, one of the most brutal-sounding bands from Lyon and the region. The band was founded in 1996 by bassist Shorkan K.M. (Eternal, K Amon K, Neraeon), drummer Altar.ZK6 (Doctor Livingstone, K Amon K, Sektemtum, ex-Mütiilation, etc.) and vocalist Kra Blizzard Cillag (K Amon K, Neraeon). Since 2008, the band has officially gone into inactive status and the members are busy with other projects of their own, but their music is definitely a legacy that will be talked about for a long time to come.
“De Aeternitate Commando” is the band’s second full-length album, released in 2002 by the Oaken Shield label on CD. The album was later reissued via Asgard Hass Productions on double 12″vinyl.
As Crystalium tradition dictates, “De Aeternitate Commando” exudes dangerous black metal energy, an enormous dose of elitism and pure hatred, all united under a thick veil of philosophy, prominent eerie vocals and cold classic black metal riffs and ritualistic atmospheres.
Over the course of 48 minutes and eight anthems, the listener is taken through a veritable searing black metal storm.
Calling out with the aggressive and longest track of the album, “La valeur de la haine”, Crystalium in the very
opening track leads on with a fiery march and drags the ear after the impressive layers of atmospheric guitars and phenomenal organic fast drums, as in the same time,  the soaring highly specific and emotionally charged vocals directly cut into the mind. In the song, you can also hear choir singing in one of the segments, the variations in tempo and mood are accented by beautiful memorable riffs that not only perfectly accent the vocals and backing vocals, but also stand out as a masterpiece in their own. Lyrically, the song deals with the idea of rebirth and inner fire, of struggle and the feeling of freedom.

„Exerçant la théorie de la non faiblesse, aux antipodes de la fraternité, là où la flamme de notre renaissance embrase les ailes de l’oiseau-proie. Les polarités sont unifiées, par le sang, le feu et le fer…“

“Je suis le Christ,” the album’s next anthem, is no less thunderous. The searing vocals continue to spit fire into our ears, bringing out  their purest black metal charge and hatred to the fore, as the cold atmospheres wander between them and the stormy drums, vying for supremacy, pouring out incredible wickedness. The song also features an inhuman drum solo, followed by screams and chilling riffs that gradually bring it to an end accompanied by additional layers of guitars and keyboards.
The distinctive and devouring vocals of Kra Blizzard Cillag are the absolute ruler of the album, heavily accented by Altar’s phenomenal drums (which not coincidentally have entire solos in the title) and the beautiful cold atmospheres created by the fierce strings and the keyboards.
If it could be described in a few words, I would say that this album is one of the most sinister, direct and at the same time – sublime black metal metal attacks that I have ever had the pleasure of hearing from the homeland of Molière. Uncompromising on production and quality, featuring military samples and ritualistic choruses on some of the tracks, and undeniable technical prowess, ‘De Aeternitate Commando’ is one of those standout titles you’ll remember and is guaranteed to  draw you in.

You can hear “De Aeternitate Commando” below: