Absence of Light is a most fitting name for this Kenyan death metal band. The name conjures up images of a profound darkness from which there is no escape. The songs contained on the album fit in well with that image. Vyom Chakra (meaning ''never-ending sky'' or ''cycle'' in Sanskrit) is the debut release from the Nairobi-based trio.
This review is very late, since the Vyom Chakra EP was released last year! I only managed to get round to it this year. A hint of the darkness to come is apparent from the first track, Narakas, an atmospheric instrumental with a guitar melody that winds through the fog of noise.
Aural pummeling begins with the second track, Daksha. The fast drums leaped out from the speakers and attacked me. Angad Gupta's guitar tone has a hypnotic quality to it. The drums and rhythm guitar create a wall of sound, with lead guitar parts weaving around it. Atmosphere is not usually something associated with death metal, but the guitar work here is guided down interesting paths by the drums and vocals. Earworm riffs got firmly stuck in my head before mutating into new forms.
Drums with a marching rhythm open Arkasodara. An acoustic guitar's seductive melodies weave around the intro. There is a brief pause before an explosion of agression; vocalist Shiv Mandavia puts in a vocal performance that matches the music's atmosphere very well, both on this track and throughout the album. The melody from the intro remains, making for a smooth transition between the slow and fast tempos. A softer interlude gives respite before the crushing wall of sound falls onto the listener once more. Absence of Light's songs are well-paced; the extremity of the music is counter-balanced by lighter moments. These lighter moments don't weaken the impact of the extreme moments, which is a testament to Absence of Light's excellent songwriting. Another seductive guitar riff appears on Khalasamhara, I, with an ominous quality attached to it. This track floats, yet melts my face at the same time. A combination of grace and aural pummeling is a great combination in death metal.
Closing Vyom Chakra on a powerful note is Samadhi, the highlight of the EP for me. The notes gradually get louder, like an approaching storm. The drums blast the song to life, and rain down blastbeats like bullets. The bass riffs enhance the overall impact of the other instruments. A slow interlude is introduced by an echoing guitar riff, which continues its mesmeric song. Drums join in, sounding as if they are echoing down the passage of a centuries-buried tomb. The bass throws the song back into the dark, chaotic pit, then the interlude delivers me to safety once more. I felt as if the album was too short, yet if it had been longer I surely would've been crushed by the dark sounds of Absence of Light.
This review is very late, since the Vyom Chakra EP was released last year! I only managed to get round to it this year. A hint of the darkness to come is apparent from the first track, Narakas, an atmospheric instrumental with a guitar melody that winds through the fog of noise.
Aural pummeling begins with the second track, Daksha. The fast drums leaped out from the speakers and attacked me. Angad Gupta's guitar tone has a hypnotic quality to it. The drums and rhythm guitar create a wall of sound, with lead guitar parts weaving around it. Atmosphere is not usually something associated with death metal, but the guitar work here is guided down interesting paths by the drums and vocals. Earworm riffs got firmly stuck in my head before mutating into new forms.
Drums with a marching rhythm open Arkasodara. An acoustic guitar's seductive melodies weave around the intro. There is a brief pause before an explosion of agression; vocalist Shiv Mandavia puts in a vocal performance that matches the music's atmosphere very well, both on this track and throughout the album. The melody from the intro remains, making for a smooth transition between the slow and fast tempos. A softer interlude gives respite before the crushing wall of sound falls onto the listener once more. Absence of Light's songs are well-paced; the extremity of the music is counter-balanced by lighter moments. These lighter moments don't weaken the impact of the extreme moments, which is a testament to Absence of Light's excellent songwriting. Another seductive guitar riff appears on Khalasamhara, I, with an ominous quality attached to it. This track floats, yet melts my face at the same time. A combination of grace and aural pummeling is a great combination in death metal.
Closing Vyom Chakra on a powerful note is Samadhi, the highlight of the EP for me. The notes gradually get louder, like an approaching storm. The drums blast the song to life, and rain down blastbeats like bullets. The bass riffs enhance the overall impact of the other instruments. A slow interlude is introduced by an echoing guitar riff, which continues its mesmeric song. Drums join in, sounding as if they are echoing down the passage of a centuries-buried tomb. The bass throws the song back into the dark, chaotic pit, then the interlude delivers me to safety once more. I felt as if the album was too short, yet if it had been longer I surely would've been crushed by the dark sounds of Absence of Light.
No comments:
Post a Comment