Quite a lot of black metal has arrived in the last month or so and it is certainly one, if not the most popular form of music amongst our review team, nothing stays around for long and albums are quickly grabbed. Annthennath were a band that I had never heard of but one play of their debut album ‘States Of Liberating Departure’ left me in little doubt that I had a bit of a gem here and was certainly keeping hold of this one myself. A few plays down the line I am very happy as this is an underground release that is an all round winner. The band hail from Rochefort France and looking at the press photo of them they look like they possibly are the local Hells Angels chapter around the region; unleashing hell is also what they are very good at musically. Members also play in various other bands such as Angmar, Sael (whose new album turned up with this) Otargos (whose No God, No Satan recently impressed me no end) and Odem Arcarum. I also note that vocalist Shaxul has served time in Deathspell Omega as well surprisingly in Japanese bands Sabbat and Barbatos.
A rabid scream and flailing guitars open things up on ‘Survival Activation’ without any easing the listener into things. We are literally flung into a maelstrom and it should also be said that this is an album where the bass tone is excellent and you can really hear it making a distinct presence in the mix. The album comprises of eight songs in 50 minutes and they are skilfully constructed and executed. This opener may well be the shortest but the feral mindset of it shows little in the way of compromise. Lyrics are in English and there is a very serious feel behind things as both they and the music bristle in authoritative orthodoxy. Some nice fetid death grunts are delivered as we rampage into ‘Emotional Balance’ and this balance is addressed as the song slows into a gnarly doom tinged passage before with grandiose guitars leads blazing away as it speeds up again. The incessant guitar work is full of rich melody and it is obvious N°6 (Iconoclast) and Lyshd Mordrak have skill when it comes to laying down arrangements. Half way through ‘Symbolic Awareness’ there is a bit of a surprise to be found as the music slows to an eerie atmospheric acoustic part, full of unease and sinister spoken intonations. This is an exception to the mid to fast paced strimming attack and it does inject a different vibe to things making it really stand out.
There is a profound air of superiority behind this album, one that does not in any way allow me to name-drop other bands. This is quite unique stuff and there are no similarities to others rolling off the tip of my tongue. Everything about this exudes class and beyond the music, production etc the booklet and cover art completes a great package. Like me you may not have heard of Annthennath but if you like quality French black metal you want to check them out now!
http://www.myspace.com/annthennath
