ALBUM REVIEW: Akhlys – Melinoë

The third album from nightmarish Ambient Black Metal band AKHLYS has been unveiled, coming out via Debemur Morti Productions on December 14th.

A deep and brooding ambience begins the descent into slumbering psychosis with discordant guitars chiming into a ferocious onslaught accompanied by the battering blastbeats that elevate the hideous guitars into a swirling murky frenzy. Warped and convulsing rhythms blend with the eerie melodic side of things below vitriolic screams as the contorting soundscapes delve further into abyssal realms, it does not take long to definitively say this album is going to be something truly potent. There is a really intriguing dichotomy in which the music seems urgent, aggressive and yet also despairing with a sonic impact that will leave you in fits of anguish. Ceremonial chants occasionally disperse the rhythmic barbarity while overall we see a very complex, almost avant-garde performance that will not allow you to awake until this nightmare is over, perhaps not even then. More on that as we continue further into the depths of “Melinoë”.

Glistening with an ambience that is from another realm, the sparse and howling mysticism of this record is well-paced, utilising the full extent of their Dark Ambient beginnings in a harsh Black Metal context to concoct a pungent and uniquely disturbed soundscape like no other. Within the insanity and dissonance there is a melodic and grooving quality that renders the songs far more memorable with plenty of instrumental prowess showing true mastery that is easy to fall into a state of adoration while instinct will tell you this is a dangerous release that should be listened to with caution and respect of its dark arts. Hollow-sounding bass gives a bottomless depth to the sound with a monolithic production conveying this as guitars pierce and contort into horrendous images of disturbed sleep betwixt howling vocals. The all-consuming, misshapen and yet direct approach to this record is utterly mesmerising in the most daunting, spectral and visceral manner. Still there is no chance of awakening.

As we progress further towards the latter cycles of REM sleep, the album shows little signs of remorse. The twisted, ruthless and marvellously distinguished occultism here will clearly linger in the mind long after the recording ends. Haunting in its nature, there is certainly elements in this music that is truly resplendent and stunningly performed, while there is always a lurking sense of dread as we are plunged into that state of feeling like falling while perfectly still, which has never been conveyed sonically in such a convincing manner before. In little over 45 minutes you will see you conscious rewritten into a fragmented, disrupted state of psychosis. The wise recourse to be revisiting the album to gain further insight as you learn just how much nuance and skill is in this masterful piece of work. The ever-evolving borders of what Black Metal can be have certainly been pushed further afield here than Akhlys (or their contemporaries for that matter) have ever achieved which in itself is a bold statement but those who dare meditate on this release will understand. Awaken, before returning to this ancient slumbering realm of ritual incantations and all but dormant horrors.

A crushing, despairing, twisted and unforgettable release that will bring your deepest nightmares and hallucinations right to you with a remorseless and feral display of discordant Black Metal magnificence. A grandiose piece of work that will definitely stand the test of time as an important output of a truly unique band. Those who manage to understand this release will find it a truly rewarding and lingering experience. -9/10