Album number four for one of the world’s “most noted blasphemous underground death metal bands”. ‘Aeons Black’ is as dark and heavy as you will be expecting. The band have hired legendary death metal artist Kristian “Necrolord” Wåhlin for the album artwork, who has previously worked with bands like Bathory and At The Gates. The hand painted design sets out the stall for the album; dark but beautiful.
I like a band who like to get on with things. First track ‘Still They Pray’ fades up in a couple of seconds and they’re away. A dirge of chugging guitars and Dahlstom’s throat ripping death-growl quickly accelerate to optimum pace. It’s fast, powerful and dark but the clean guitars squeal and occasionally the intricate guitar solos cut through the barrage.
‘The Glowing Hate’ shifts back down a gear. It has a more traditional death guitar tone but combines a real groove element, which becomes apparent more and more throughout this album. It’s an effective tool and manages to make the most angry, hate filled track, that little bit catchy. Aeon haven’t gone soft, but they have widened their attack to incorporate more speeds and styles.
‘I Wish You Death’ typically heads straight back into the chaos and soon blows away any doubts you had about them still being hard as nails. They are; a point they continue to push through typical Aeon bruisers such as ‘Nothing Left to Destroy’ and ‘Garden of Sin’.
The title track is one of the stars of the album, a real grinder of a track. Slowed down to a crawl, the track is real punisher, and evidence of Aeon’s growth a song writers since the last album.
All in all, Aeon have come up with their usual awesome display of modern death metal. It is for the most part, a rip-roaring ride through chugging guitars, piercing solos and death growls. Aeon have chucked in a few more tricks this time round though. There’s a groove that makes this album slightly more accessible and there’s a concentrated effort to mix the speeds up a little between the tracks.
That doesn’t sound much, but the results speak for themselves. Aeon have just delivered the Death Metal album of the year!
10/10
‘Aeons Black’ is out 20th Nov on Metal Blade!
Rob W
