4.5 /5
Rating
Written by Sargon the Terrible
Published May 9, 2020

A relatively new band combining musicians from several countries, Acathexis play an encompassing variety of Black Metal that draws on some Cascadian sounds, while also touching on the more modernist Black Metal of bands like Nightbringer and Aoratos—in fact I was surprised not to find any Nightbringer band members in the roster. The recording is big and sharp, with a lot of precision and space, the instruments layered so densely they almost become a kind of metallic orchestra. The songs are all long and wield a lot of parts, often making use of a blurring, deep attack that definitely recalls The Ruins of Beverast. This kind of thing can seem like a big chaotic mess, but it is actually very carefully constructed with a lot of layers and details in the sound. I was prepared to be skeptical of this, but it pulled me in, and I bet it will pull you in too.