There is no subgenre in Heavy Metal that has as many one-man bands as Black Metal. One could debate about the reasons for this at length, but that is not the topic here. First of all, it should be noted that VENUS STAR is not a half-assed superficial side project. Atvar, who is responsible for all instruments plus vocals, has been producing music under this monicker for 15 years. “Smokeless Fires” is full-length number six and released via the well-known label Terratur Possessions. Some people buy from this label almost blindly and that is quite understandable, at least if you are interested in authentic and artistically sophisticated releases. Which brings us directly to “Smokeless Fires”, which is not chasing after any trends. The eight songs are developing sluggish, somewhere in the middle between slow and mid-tempo. Objectively speaking, one could call the style primitive, as nothing extraordinary happens here. But it is precisely this reduced-to-the-bare essentials style that makes the album so interesting. Above all, this dragging tempo with repetitive riffs creates a hypnotic, dark desolate atmosphere. In particular the expressive grunting vocals, without being to prominent, are an essential part of the occult and raw atmosphere. VENUS STAR offers a refreshingly unpolished and spiritually charged interpretation of Black Metal. With their focus on atmosphere, occult themes and minimalist compositions the band from Finland goes its own way and completely abstains from any modern influences. If you have missed VENUS STAR, then “Smokeless Fire” is the best opportunity to get to know Atvar and his work by visiting https://venusstar.bandcamp.com and www.facebook.com/terraturpossessions