AVICHI „“The Divine Tragedy””

Music: Black Metal
Country: United States
Web site: www.nmbrecords.com


Cool Songs: Purification within the Eighth Sphere, Messianic Deliverance, Tadium Vitae

AVICHI is another solid black metal band from the United States. This group further proves you don’t have to be from Scandinavia to play sick black metal. The U.S. has plenty of it. In the tradition of such bands like GRAVELAND, BLACK FUNERAL, DARKTHRONE, and IMMORTAL (older), AVICHI is a group consisting of just one member, Aamonael (ex-NACHTMYSTIUM). Like the above-mentioned groups, Aamonael plays all the instruments, with the help of session drummer—Xaphar.

“The Divine Tragedy” is a nightmarish journey into the darkest depths of depravity. The album explores graphic scenarios of eternal damnation through various means such as welcoming dark forces through ritualistic means and suicide. Aamonael does all this without resorting to low-fi production values for atmosphere. The mix allows each instrument to come through, clearly and succinctly, while still clinging to the conventions of modern black metal.

“Purification within the Eighth Sphere” displays unrelenting speed, complete with blasting drums and a grinding guitar rhythm that opens up to frigid tones. The vocals tow the line between black screams and deep growls. A close listen reveals a death-metal-like vocal range, but the heavy use of echo creates a cavernous atmosphere, transforming his vocals into a style that is definitely more black metal than death metal.

The first half of the album continues the brutal, swift attack of “Purification within the Eighth Sphere.” “Messianic Deliverance” and the sinfully drenched “Phallic Insinuation” blaze away with only pounding fills for tempo changes. However with “Prayer for Release,” the pace slows considerably and the guitar rhythms become more concise. This is where the album takes a turn from outward annihilation to total destruction of the inner self. “Taedium Vitae” is Amonael’s ode to suicide. A GRAVELAND-like quasi acoustic guitar rhythm brings the song an ancient, mystical quality to accompany the bleak philosophical lyrics.

AVICHI has not created a ground breaking album with “The Divine Tragedy.” While one can’t point the finger to any one band and say this group is a clone, most of what they are doing has been done before. The difference is, though, AVICHI does it quite well. They do not rely on a variety of instrumentation, although they do use a gong in a couple of places for dramatic effect. Nor do they look to a poor production for atmosphere. The scary vocal echo, unfeeling guitar tones, and blasting drum beats all pass the black metal test. The test I’m referring to is: does it make me feel uncomfortable when I listen to it? The answer is unquestionably, yes!

note: 8/10

Tracklist

1. Entrance to God
2. Purification within the Eighth Sphere
3. Messianic Deliverance
4. Phallic Insinuation
5. Prayer for Release
6. Taedium Vitae
7. Aeonic Disintegration
8. Separation from the Life Principle
Total playing time 42:08

Line-up

Aamonael – all instruments/vocals
Xaphar – Percussion (Session)