Review: Unapproachable Light - Mesmerized by the Unknown (2025)

Band: Unapproachable Light Album: Mesmerized by the Unknown (Demo) Genre: Black Metal Country: United States Label: Nuclear War Now! Productions Released: September 19, 2025

Introduction

Unapproachable Light is a one-man black metal project hailing from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 2020 by the musician known as Obscurum. Emerging from the fertile yet often overlooked American underground, the project is rooted firmly in tradition, channeling the raw, esoteric spirit of early 1990s black metal rather than chasing modern polish or trend-driven hybridity. Obscurum is no newcomer to extreme music, having been involved in various underground bands and session work prior to Unapproachable Light, but this project stands as a focused and personal expression of his fascination with mysticism, the natural world, and the metaphysical tension between light and darkness. Mesmerized by the Unknown, released as a demo through Nuclear War Now! Productions, marks the project’s first major statement. Track Listing: 1. Mysterious Emanations 2. Ancient Eyes of Gold 3. Blazing Horizons 4. Magic Taphos 5. Eternal Dreams

The Album

From its opening moments, Mesmerized by the Unknown announces itself as an exercise in atmosphere and conviction rather than excess. The production is raw but deliberate, striking a balance between obscurity and clarity that allows the riffs to cut through without sacrificing the demo’s cavernous aura. Guitar lines are steeped in classic black metal melodicism, repetitive, and trance-inducing while still retaining a sense of forward motion. Rather than relying on constant blast beats, the demo frequently shifts tempos, incorporating mid-paced passages that deepen its hypnotic pull. Vocals are harsh and commanding, delivered with a rasp that feels more incantatory than aggressive, as if functioning as another instrument rather than a focal point. Lyrically and thematically, the demo dwells in esoteric territory: ancient visions, arcane knowledge, and the allure of the unknowable. This sense of mysticism is reinforced by the songwriting itself, which favors immersion over immediacy. Tracks unfold patiently, repeating motifs until they become almost meditative, drawing the listener into a liminal space where darkness is not merely hostile, but revelatory. What sets Mesmerized by the Unknown apart from many contemporary demo releases is its sincerity. There is no irony here, no attempt to deconstruct black metal or dilute it with outside influences. Instead, Unapproachable Light embraces the genre’s foundational elements, raw emotion, atmosphere, and devotion to the unseen and refines them through careful pacing and cohesive mood.

Conclusion

Mesmerized by the Unknown is a strong and confident debut that positions Unapproachable Light as a project worth watching within the modern underground. While it does not seek to reinvent black metal, it excels by honoring the genre’s core principles and presenting them with focus and restraint. For listeners drawn to traditional, mystically inclined black metal that values atmosphere over spectacle, Unapproachable Light offers a compelling glimpse into darkness that is not fully graspable, only felt.

BMZ Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Support Unapproachable Light here: https://unapproachablelight.bandcamp.com/album/mesmerized-by-the-unknown-demo

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