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| #FOR FANS OF: Atmospheric Black |
After an interesting debut EP and the subsequent excellent full-length entitled 'Nocturnal Vampyric Bewitchment,' the USA-based duo Azathoth’s Dream is back for the rejoicing of 90s black metal die-hard fans. I personally enjoyed their debut album quite a lot, as it truly sounded like an honest and well-elaborated homage to black metal’s most authentic times.
Two years later, the duo is ready to unveil its new album, and the question is whether it will be on par with its predecessor or if it can improve upon it. 'Solitary Forest Necromancy' is the title of the new beast, and it follows the same patterns, for sure. The album is firmly rooted in the quintessential characteristics of the genre, with no big surprises regarding the elements that can be found in it, which is obviously good news for the average fan. The American duo has created ten pieces where rawness and atmosphere coexist in excellent balance. If we compare both albums, I would highlight that, in general terms, the atmosphere is even stronger here, but never to the detriment of the fierceness in the compositions. The keys play an important role, as their presence is notable. They are perfectly paced in the mix, and they embrace the rest of the instruments, creating a solid feeling of unity. Kudos for the production work, because even though the sound is raw and primitive, the guitars, keyboards, rhythmic section, and L. Azathoth’s vicious shrieks each have their own space to shine. Azathoth’s Dream's material is far from being complex, but it has the required variety in terms of guitar lines and tempo changes that make their compositions highly enjoyable and well-crafted. I personally appreciate it when a band tries to create compositions where the pace has its ups and downs and avoids sounding exasperatingly repetitive.
The album opener, "Denied", showcases the aforementioned characteristics with a fast-paced beginning, where L. Azathoth's screams lead the charge alongside the powerful guitars and hypnotic keys. Fast and slower tempos are tastefully combined to enhance the track's strong ambiance. This combination sounds even more inspired in "Ancient Black," which is one of the strongest tracks on the album. The guitar lines are particularly strong in the equally furious "Malevolent Enshrined," where the drums also sound remarkably powerful. The band slows down the pace a bit in the enjoyable track "Coven of the Ancient Black Flame," although, as is the case with the rest of the composition, you won't find a single song where fast or slow sections are completely absent. The mix of different rhythms is a key element of Azathoth's Dream and one that this project aims to preserve, which I consider a wise decision, as it is a fundamental ingredient of this well-crafted album.
'Solitary Forest Necromancy' is undoubtedly another solid step in Azathoth’s Dream’s career. The elements found in the previous works are still here, perfectly mixed and maintaining a great level of inspiration for our personal delight. (Alain González Artola)
Two years later, the duo is ready to unveil its new album, and the question is whether it will be on par with its predecessor or if it can improve upon it. 'Solitary Forest Necromancy' is the title of the new beast, and it follows the same patterns, for sure. The album is firmly rooted in the quintessential characteristics of the genre, with no big surprises regarding the elements that can be found in it, which is obviously good news for the average fan. The American duo has created ten pieces where rawness and atmosphere coexist in excellent balance. If we compare both albums, I would highlight that, in general terms, the atmosphere is even stronger here, but never to the detriment of the fierceness in the compositions. The keys play an important role, as their presence is notable. They are perfectly paced in the mix, and they embrace the rest of the instruments, creating a solid feeling of unity. Kudos for the production work, because even though the sound is raw and primitive, the guitars, keyboards, rhythmic section, and L. Azathoth’s vicious shrieks each have their own space to shine. Azathoth’s Dream's material is far from being complex, but it has the required variety in terms of guitar lines and tempo changes that make their compositions highly enjoyable and well-crafted. I personally appreciate it when a band tries to create compositions where the pace has its ups and downs and avoids sounding exasperatingly repetitive.
The album opener, "Denied", showcases the aforementioned characteristics with a fast-paced beginning, where L. Azathoth's screams lead the charge alongside the powerful guitars and hypnotic keys. Fast and slower tempos are tastefully combined to enhance the track's strong ambiance. This combination sounds even more inspired in "Ancient Black," which is one of the strongest tracks on the album. The guitar lines are particularly strong in the equally furious "Malevolent Enshrined," where the drums also sound remarkably powerful. The band slows down the pace a bit in the enjoyable track "Coven of the Ancient Black Flame," although, as is the case with the rest of the composition, you won't find a single song where fast or slow sections are completely absent. The mix of different rhythms is a key element of Azathoth's Dream and one that this project aims to preserve, which I consider a wise decision, as it is a fundamental ingredient of this well-crafted album.
'Solitary Forest Necromancy' is undoubtedly another solid step in Azathoth’s Dream’s career. The elements found in the previous works are still here, perfectly mixed and maintaining a great level of inspiration for our personal delight. (Alain González Artola)
(Iron Bonehead Productions - 2025)
Score: 84
https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/album/azathoths-dream-solitary-forest-necromancy
Score: 84
https://ironboneheadproductions.bandcamp.com/album/azathoths-dream-solitary-forest-necromancy