Thumos – Atlantis 9/10
The unknown entity Thumos returns with a new track EP Atlantis. It explores Plato’s dialogues Timaeus, the unfinished Critias, and the hypothetical Hermocrates.
Like all their music, Atlantis is beautifully subtle yet incredible dense and heavy, each individual track is a building crescendo of a journey that enquires through waves of tremolo and huge rhythmic components. ‘’ Hermocrates’ with its staggering percussion seamlessly interwoven against the main riff and an intellect that requires the compositions to be unbound by simple generic musical descriptors. Take for example the brilliant secondary riff that lurks within ‘’Timaeus’’, it is majestic, heavy and incredibly powerful, matching and transcending the subject matter where the four earthen elements of nature are analyzed as geometry. Thumos are a rare act where their music is demanding but accessible for those who pursue its depths and get immersed in their concepts. Vocals are not required, the three tracks on offer here offer thirty minutes of adventure and introspection, the instrumental compositions incredible strong in their variety and ability to move the listener, unafraid to use volume and sheer power along with a deft touch that defines ‘’Critias.”’
Influenced but not bound by touches of progressive and post movements. Thumos’s soundscapes are earthen in origin yet filled with the idealism that transcends and takes modern music with philosophy to create individual unique works of art that are exploratory, demanding and ultimately uplifting. Highly recommended.
Night Shall Drape Us – Lunatic Choir 7.5/10
Led by the combined musical talents of its mastermind LRH and joined by, Spellgoth, Wraath, Infection and Vexd live. The Nordic power that is Night Shall Drape Us unleash their debut Lunatic Choir, a black metal maelstrom of energy and intensity that is marked by strong European heritage.
Epitomized by track ‘’Queen of the Red Streams’’ Night Shall Drape Us offer unrelenting music delivered at such speed! It stops suddenly for a touch of melody before hurling you back into the abyss, ‘’Under the Dead Sky ’’ with its brief slow bridge and chanted incantations continue a mayhem that whilst it being recognizable, its final moments of blurring speed and interlayered riffs is impossible to not get drawn into. It is a rousing cacophony of aural carnage that showcases when black metal and melody do merge they can be utterly unforgiving. “Lunacy and Horror” offers a more traditional black metal assault heavily influenced by the second wave. Lunatic Choir is heavily influenced by both the Norwegian and Polish scenes, Wraath’s Vocals are extreme and harsh yet clear infused by adrenaline. Initially created by LRH it is a showcase of both his drumming and guitar ability, the riff to defiance of ‘’Unification” is an anthem executed to perfection, a call to arms, perfectly defiant as reflected on another highlight "Ethereal Constrictor", pure black metal majesty that is matched by the crazed tempos of ‘’Lunacy and Horror’’
Lunatic Choir is a stellar release, only held back by openly instantly recognizable influences yet it has the ability to stand on its own as an offering of blackened fury that revels in the darkness and shadows. Its speed marked by moments of assonance and chanted vocals that linger long after it has passed. Chaotic yet focused Night Shall Drape Us offer mastery of the black art in its most primal form.
Endless Loss - Traversing The Mephitic Artery 8.5/10
From their beginnings in 2016 with their "Solitary Starless Beast" demo, Australian duo Endless Loss have taken the bestial components of death metal and infused them with black metal. 2022 saw the release of their Ep "Bloodletting Narcotic Divination". Traversing The Mephitic Artery is twenty-eight minutes of pure hateful intent that marks their debut.
Infused with a thick war like intensity, Traversing The Mephitic Artery offers no respite, their tracks are short sharp precise. It is savage raw and openly hostile. From ‘’ Nexus Webs of Malefic Prescience’’ to closer ‘’Impenitent Draconian Triumph’’ Endless Loss create the sort of brutal extreme music that way it should be, its fast, incredible so in places and it merges the ugliness of both genres into a new twisted form that reeks of malevolence violence. ‘’ Grave Subjugation’’ is intense and unstoppable with a riff that harkens back to the days of when extreme music was dangerous and ugly. The technicality of the songs is literally hurled at you with such urgency.’’ Vertiginous Depths of Unchained Hedonism’’ has a crazed solo buried under the bombardment of hi-hat and cymbal carnage, the main riff a lurching ode to both black and death metal, when the tempo slows as on ‘’ Mouldering Resurrection’’ it is no less severe , the time changes and riffing giving an edge and prowess to the constant barrage.
An unrelenting unrepentant assault that frays the nerves and damages perceptions. Traversing The Mephitic Artery is the epitome of crazed primal forces coalescing into a hateful union of extreme music pure in spirit and ferocity!