A Distant Sun is a strange name for this band, whose style doesn’t invoke the remotest thought of sunny days, distant or otherwise. What we do get on this three track blast is some uncompromising old-school Black / Death Metal. The band come from Ireland, and we’re told their music “espouses old Pagan beliefs in a modern world”.
The EP starts off with “Mourning the Idol”. The tone is set with mid-paced stern riffs and a thumping deep sound. The track progresses like a march. The vocalist sounds as if he is preaching a Death Metal sermon. The overall effect reminded me of a darker version of a typical Amon Amarth track. The repetitive attrition re-surfaces on “Silhouettes of Golden Times”. The punishment grinds relentlessly on, perhaps too long to be interesting, but in the band’s favour there’s no lack of intensity. “The Burden of Silence” takes us into more traditional Black Metal territory. It’s raw and never going to be accused of being too fancy. The vocalist continues to grind on menacingly. There’s something of Hypocrisy in its persistence and blackened moments of climax. A sinister atmosphere prevails but above all it’s harsh. I don’t sense much feeling of hope here.
It’s hard to get inspired by something as grim and overtly bleak as this. It was never going to be jolly. This work simply sets out what it intends to do, and although I personally didn’t find it in any way exciting, the band can consider it a success.
http://www.myspace.com/adistantsun
