This is quite an interesting release in that all the guys are also founder members of Sargassus, a progressive post-metal act who have been around since 2012, although they only released their debut last year. Angrmáni (Matias Stenman, guitar, vocals), Maleficarum (Matias Rokio, drums) and Abyssias (Teemu Leskinen, bass) decided to give in to their inner Black Metal darkness, although it should be noted that in Sargassus, Matias does not play guitar as that is the role of Teemu, so they have switched things around a little.
This is not the first time I have come across a band inside another band, but I am now curious to hear what Sargassus are like as this never comes across as a side project in any way, as these guys mean it. No AI here, just raw blasts, although we do get two short atmospheric pieces, one at the beginning and one halfway through. It is something we have come to expect within the genre, especially for openers, but the strange thing here is that both of them are presented at a much higher volume than the rest of the album. Given it happens both times I presume it is deliberate, but I have no idea what they were trying to achieve, except it doesn’t work.
There is certainly enough aggression and musicality within this for me to want to hear more as this shows promise, but they need to step up with the next one.
Rating: 6/10
Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Acolythusband
https://www.facebook.com/inverserecords