AXAMENTA: Spires (BLACK METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

AxamentA are a Belgian black-death band who, for thirty years, have been offering melodic, dark music to support stories worthy of Stephen King. Eighteen years on, the Belgians follow up “Ever-Arch-I-Tech-Ture”, extending the story of the main character on this new opus. A plunge into terror, a supernatural adventure between desolation and violence.

The ep juxtaposes leaden passages fueled by extreme violence ('Pulpit') and overpowered by hellish blasts, with symphonic or more intimate illuminations. Gentle melodies, grandiose symphonic touches ('Narthex') and breathtaking darkness are a blessing for any self-respecting ear hungry for dazzling sensations. AxamentA 's music strikes a balance between violence and gentleness, particularly when the vocals become more sensual while the riffs pour molten lead ('Nave'). The album stretches the barriers between genres, bringing together progressive metal, black metal, symphonic metal and film scores ('Sacristy').

Divided into seven acts, which are as many stations on a Way of the Cross, the band builds a solid architecture, defying fashion with melody as its only common thread, supported by sharp riffs that form the backbone of the songs. The moods are highly varied, ranging from whispered confidences worthy of S.U.P. productions, to grandiloquent vocalizations reminiscent of the best moments of opera, to suave melodies, as the musicians invite you to enter a multiple universe where terror reigns supreme. The album is a plunge into the abyss, into the throes of a violent world, culminating in a sublime, breathtaking finale ('Spires').

“Spires” is a superb record, immersive, melodic and captivating, delivering near-Hollywood music that captures your attention every second. In no way does “Spires” suffer from comparison with the greatest concepts in the history of metal music (“Operation: Mindcrime”, “Scenes From A Memory” or “In Search Of Truth”), so bluff is it! Carried along by a great deal of beauty and finesse, and a production of exceptional quality that stands out from the crowd while relying on fundamentals, “Spires” is an album destined to become a classic of the genre. - Official website

AXAMENTA

SPIRES

AUTRE LABEL

BLACK METAL