Metal-archives
Akphaezya - Anthology 2 - 98%
Written by frozen_me on June 30th, 2008
Hmm I don’t know if I should do this review the typical way or in an akphaezyan way. So, basically, this album is just crazy. But what would someone expect while reading “sounds like Atrox and Arch Enemy with everything in between”? I must say it's one of the best avant-garde metal debut albums I’ve ever heard. The singer, Nehl Aelin, is probably the most versatile singer in metal nowadays. She can do anything, from growls, low jazzy vocals to high operatic and extreme ‘a la Monika Edvardsen’ vocals.
The album, Anthology II (there is no Anthology 1 yet…time doesn’t work our way in Akphaezya) starts with a trip-hop intro, Preface, with Nehl whispering and various sounds wrapping her prayer into a calm prelude. Chrysalis starts with piano and guitars and it constantly changes. Grunts change into sweet vocals, heavy metal and blastbeats change to jazz and vice versa. A great opener track, full of energy! Next track is Beyond the Sky, an ambient acoustic song that will make you relax and dream until it grabs you from the hand and takes you on a trip to China. The song evokes all kind of beautiful images, witches chanting around big fires, the sky is changing colors and Nehl is chanting along with them. Khamsin could be a song out of Atrox’s Orgasm, you must listen to understand! Reflections starts with piano and instantly builds to a faster song. Nehl introduces us to her extreme vocals and she is also using her more rough voice which is totally mind blowing. There is also a great solo towards the end. Awake is an interlude, a great musical piece (I would say it is as awesome as Diablo Swing Orchestra’s Gunpowder Chant) and it reminds me of flowing waters. Next song is The Golden Vortex of Kaltaz, it starts with a spooky piano that could have been part of Nightmare before Christmas and before it ends an echo builds the ambience only to leave the guitars take lead role! You can definitely hear Death influences here. Nehl is growling and there are also some choir-like parts. Rock voice interchanges with deep growls and heavy music, a song that sends shivers down my spine. After the dive into the Vortex, we learn about the Secret of Time! It starts with a symphonic way and oriental influences, completed by soft vocals and a joyful piano. This song is more straight-forward than the others and also less weird. Stolen Tears is a song from the past, it will probably remind you of Scorpion or even Pink Floyd. Trance HL4 is the most akphaezyan song, a real chaos of weird voices and sounds! Last song is The Bottle of Lie, a metal song with accordeon (can you say Croissant Metal?), reggae and some of Nehl’s extreme vocals.
There is also a speech and a prayer at the end that moves the story forward cause in Akphaezya music is not just vocals and sounds, it's life, images and colors! A must-buy for everyone that wants something fresh, different and exciting
by frozen_me
Note : 98/100
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