Label: Independent
Genre: Black Metal
Length: 19:55
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Today, I'm going to talk about a new EP I've just listened to (in reality, this review should have been posted a few days ago, but due to lack of time, I'm sharing it today). It's called Sunder, an EP recently released independently by the black metal entity Årxøytt. According to some sources, this entity is based in Germany and claims to take an approach akin to true interdimensional communication rather than a simply black metal project. This entity also appeared at the end of 2024.
Sunder is an EP running 19:55 minutes, consisting of five tracks. Musically, we are dealing with black metal marked by saturated guitars, simple but effective drums that are never too dominant, and an intense, loud atmospheres created by keyboards and a few melodic touches provided by the guitars. In terms of nuances, there are many tempo changes, sometimes unexpected, in the structure of each song. The vocals are powerful and deep, with narration and female voices in certain passages. As for the production, I find it very appropriate for the genre (personally, I listened to the EP in WAV format; perhaps my impression would have been different in MP3)
I will now highlight the moments that particularly caught my attention. From the very first notes of the first track Pain, we are plunged into a dark atmosphere, with tempo changes and a solo vocal narration accompanied by piano notes starting at 0:40. The aggression returns at 1:09, then the rhythm accelerates from 1:55 onwards. And I particularly liked the vocal performance from 3:04 onwards.
The track Future opens with a few melodic piano notes, but this moment of calm lasts only a few seconds before the musical violence takes over again. On this track, I really enjoyed the raw and bestial vocal performance, especially from 3:10 onwards, which perfectly illustrates the intensity sought after.
Demiurgo is a track that gets straight to the point with a fast-paced, aggressive composition. My favourite part starts at 0:58, with a heavy, unsettling atmosphere. From 1:12 onwards, the female narration reinforces this feeling of oppression and adds even more depth to the whole piece.
The track Tīde begins with a cosmic and peaceful aura, accompanied by birdsong in the background. It is an ambient piece that clearly highlights the musical and conceptual aspect described by Årxøytt. In my opinion, this track could very well have served as an introduction or conclusion to the EP (this is, of course, my personal feeling)
Finally, the last track, Opfer, is more nuanced and evolves over time. It is dominated by an aura that I would describe as unhealthy, and musically, I find that this track stands out slightly from the others in terms of composition. From 2:42 onwards, there is a change in tempo, and the vocals deliver an excellent performance through intense and deep screams, further reinforced by the heavy atmospheres from 3:22 onward, and even more distinctly from 3:32.
