EP REVIEW: Amethyst – Rock Knights

From Switzerland, a new entity springs forth playing the Heavy Metal of old that we all know and love. AMETHYST deliver their debut demo tape via Jawbreaker Records and Turborock Productions on March 25th.

Glacial guitars open with an almost folkish melody, the type of thing that would not be out of place on a Thin Lizzy record before a crisp bend and chiming cymbals eerily creep in. Rocking to life with pounding kicks and equally vibrant bass lines, the natural and organic production flourishes with powerful riffing as the whole band deliver furiously catchy instrumentals. Haunting vocals give a very proto-metallic feel akin to the likes of Pagan Altar but with an equally strong influence from Heavy Load also recognisable, more from the instrumental side. This Amethyst tape starts out so damn strong and truly feeling like a late 70s to early 80s time capsule, incorporating familiar elements but with music that is original and impassioned. My adoration for that raw and gritty edge is furthered by the raunchy soloing and very unpolished, likely analog sound. We are off to a very strong start.

The somewhat dreary atmosphere is countered by these really upbeat rocking paces, giving the music emotion but also not stopping it from getting you into punching the air and banging your head. There is speed, finesse and plenty of dexterous changes that just rip so hard while making sense. Amethyst will happily blindside you with some high-tempo assault and double kick action without losing the ambience of the slower, doomy moments. This is an example of some masterful songwriting that after hearing the lead single many, many times I am glad holds up past it opening the tape. Indeed, the blistering fury only heightens.

Very few bands have pulled off this sound so effectively in recent years (Parish, Konquest and Heavy Sentence spring to mind) where there is a much less compressed and diverse sound space being concocted. Firmly fixed in the Heavy Metal of old with mixtures of melody, gloom, speed and straight up rocking entwine to make an enchanting listen of pure magic. The overall occult flourishes that bands like Cloven Hoof, Angel Witch and Witchfynde made so haunting come into the latter half especially, which fits the music like a spiked gauntlet, penetrating the night with true magnificence. Sometimes a demo or record just feels totally right and this is one of those. For me, Amethyst have the real passion and skill to become a timeless entity even if that is solely in the underground (where idiotic hands cannot spoil it). A diamond in the rough with enough otherworldly furore yet gritty charm to win over any real headbanger.

Switzerland has a history of releasing cult cuts that stand the test of time when it comes to Heavy Metal. A country of quality over quantity. So is Amethyst another gem of excellence? Amethyst’s first step is a grandiose and multi-faceted demo that shows infinite potential, and worth in its own right. This is definitely one of the best demos I have heard in quite a while and I would go as far to say it has possible one of the most genuinely old school executions that the genre has seen in even longer. Amethyst rocks and you cannot miss ’em!