Italian black metal has long been rich with experimental eccentricities that challenge the genre’s restrictive confines. Fugit, a solo project helmed by Andrea Milan, intentionally blends black metal’s ferocity, lush shoegaze harmonies, ambient textures, and post-rock reverberations. Active since 2014, Fugit has steadily released material, culminating in Milan’s latest full-length offering—this year’s Astral Consciousness.
Having experienced all prior works leading up to this release, I must confess that I approached Astral Consciousness with significant anticipation, fueled by the initial astonishment brought by Fugit’s earlier material.
Fugit resides in its distinctive “blackgaze” niche. Yet, one might question how dark that realm truly is when adorned with such deliberately captivating melodies and lyrics that eschew pessimism. Here, Fugit’s sonic identity continues to evolve, shedding more of metal’s traditional elements; the production quality has also vastly improved. With its intricate harmonies and layered sounds, it crafts emotions verging on euphoria as part of its musical framework. Andrea’s vocals serve as another component of the atmospheric drapery; when decipherable, they convey something spiritually uplifting, though abstract.
Overlapping electric guitars and finely tuned basslines converge with shimmering synth layers and tom-heavy percussion in compositions that capture an indescribable beauty across spiritual, human, and natural realms. The mix retains a strong sense of “weight,” but channels its intensity in an exultant way, as demonstrated by the opening track “Monkey” and the closing piece “Goodbye.” Even in its most abrasive moments—such as Andrea Milan’s impassioned screams on “The Sunset Ritual” and “Metempsicosi”—the melodic splendor of the guitars balances the emotional intensity, opening up the cathartic expression. This music invites listeners into the creator’s immersive soundscape rather than imposing itself on them.
Astral Consciousness represents a deliberate synthesis of Fugit’s earlier works and signifies a new milestone in the project’s evolution. The careful refinement and enhancement of previous concepts highlight the seriousness of the artistic endeavor, propelling it forward. At once introspective and captivating, Astral Consciousness reaffirms Fugit’s unique identity while beckoning listeners to explore its entrancing sonic realm.
For all things Fugit visit the project’s Linktr.ee.
At once introspective and captivating, "Astral Consciousness" reaffirms Fugit’s unique identity while beckoning listeners to explore its entrancing sonic realm.
