ALBUM REVIEW: Aklash- Where The Ocean Meets The Sky

Here I will be reviewing the latest album, slightly belated, from my UK Black Metal friends Aklash, a band I have seen twice and was really impressed by.

1. Cascading Darkness kicks the atmospheric, riff fuelled Black Metal in beautifully with hideous vocals (in a positive way), melancholic guitars/bass and crashing drums. There is so much melody in here, the clean vocals are stunning and the atmosphere is so intense. Killer opening track for sure.
2. All Noble Deeds Are Touched With Melancholy is bleak but gorgeously written, tons more glorious riffs and evil vocals. This track is once again a really beautifully but dark atmospheric piece.
3. Where The Ocean Meets The Sky, Pt.I Elation goes in with straight up 90s Black Metal riffs which are upbeat and always worthy of a headbang. The guitars in this track are so damn catchy, the drums varied and original and the vocals fitting in perfectly. The production is pretty good and the lyrics really interesting to listen to.
4. Where The Ocean Meets The Sky, Pt.II Transcend bringing more layers to this atmosphere with stunning leads and such proficient structure, it sounds excellent.
5. The Scrying Bowl features lovely acoustic guitars, utilising the natural harmonic very nicely and with peaceful violins (which based on their live set I believe to be real). A lovely bit of orchestration interluding the album very well.
6. Vigil is heavy, has amazing cleans and brings yet more barrages of Black atmosphere amazingly. This song really reminds me of Enslaved and is an absolutely fantastic piece. The riffs are bleak yet catchy, the drums are perfectly timed and the vocal work is incredible. The ending is so ambient and tranquil, my favourite track for sure!
7. Where The Ocean Meets The Sky, Pt.III Horizons is the 15 minute finale of the album, and once again gives us buckets of atmosphere and astonishing songwriting. It is groovy, and at the same time simplistic, although the songwriting is very multi-faceted and interesting. A beautiful end to a great album!

This album gives atmosphere by the handful, great songwriting and killer Black Metal melodies. A great new addition to the UK Black Metal scene for sure! -8/10