THE REVIEWS
AD INFINITUM
Chapter I Revisited
NAPALM
Swiss symphonic metallers cut a few strings
Ad Infinitum’s acoustic reprisal of their debut album casts the symphonic metallers into a softer landscape. The lack of layered instruments bring Melissa Bonny’s talents to the fore as she effortlessly belts out harmonies to the heavens. Infected Monarchy swap out its emotional climax for a more intimate, solemn atmosphere, while the samba-styled guitar on Marching In Versailles and Live Before You Die retain the vivacity of their chugging riffs. Though Ad Infinitum’s acoustic approach has its limitations, it will be a great addition for fans, if offering little sonically that’s drastically out of the box.
FOR FANS OF: Arion, Nightwish, Lacuna Coil
YASMINE SUMMAN
ANACHITIS
The Sorcerer’s Sorrow
AVANTGARDE MUSIC
Uada frontman offers forlorn reverence to his 90s predecessors
Anachitis is Uada frontman James Sloan’s solo project, inspired heavily by Burzum’s 90s output and the depressive black metal bands those lo-fi soundscapes inspired. Hazy black metal wafts mystically from opener Athamé Of Flame, creating a dreamlike space in which thought and emotion can wander. Lazily droning synth forms background radiation on the title track, which blends rushes of despair with mid-paced stridence. The music feels beyond your grasp – a ritual obscured within dense forest, drifting mist-like through gnarled boughs. Drowned In The Spring Of Life surprises by impaling despair with righteous soloing, but otherwise there is little in terms of surprises here; this is an eminently listenable love letter to Sloan’s past favourites.
FOR FANS OF: Xasthur, Vemod, Urfaust
TOM O’BOYLE
AVANDRA
Skylighting
LAYERED REALITY
Progressive Puerto Ricans prime themselves for the pandemic
Avandra were on the cusp of recording their new album when COVID-19 plunged the planet into chaos. Unperturbed, vocalist and guitarist Christian Ayala wrote new material and the result is Skylighting – written, rehearsed and recorded during the pandemic. First track on the album, Celestial Wreaths, is a direct reference to the human loss caused by this disaster. Its crisp, enveloping melodies and heart-wrenching minor chords are a delicate reminder that this tragedy is very real. More silky than its predecessor, Descender, Skylighting’s nimble articulation of atmospheric ‘deep’ prog metal will appeal to fans of Voyager and Skyharbor, and with the acclaimed Vikram Shankar adding spacey synth throughout, it’s a multidimensional listening experience with a sobering undercurrent.
FOR FANS OF: Voyager, Circles, Glass Ocean
HOLLY WRIGHT
BAS ROTTEN
Surge
AIM DOWN SIGHT
Portugal’s crossover maniacs create a murderous buzz
As well as a vein-bulging injection of d-beat grind into the heart of crossover thrash, the debut album by these self-crowned kings of Lisbon’s DIY scene has a number of impertinent samples strategically dropped throughout its 17 tracks. On Disassociation, Primate and Spent snippets of snarky, comedic deprecation make it feel like there’s a monkey knife fight happening in the background. Lest you assume these nutters are simply resting on their DVD collections, the Spazz-meets-Slayer fury of Self and the super-tight thrash-core of Safe and Mogul have equal helpings of darkness and rainbows poking at a skilfully articulated musical hornets’ nest.
FOR FANS OF: Wolfbrigade, Iron Reagan, Tragedy
CONNIE GORDON
