I know I only just discovered Aenaon's previous effort, Extance, earlier this year; but I feel like my excitement over this follow-up is a testament to what a strong impression that album left on me. Hypnosophy is the third LP from the Greek progressive and avant-garde black metal collective; and hopefully the one that will break through to some real widespread. I am shocked that these guys are not a household name yet, because they are supremely talented musicians and songwriters.
Are they a little weird? A little off-kilter? Sure, but so is Sigh; and those guys managed to claw their way to a pretty presentable position in the metal community. I hadn't really noticed until I started listening more to this particular album, but Aenaon have some stylistic similarities to their Japanese counterparts. "Tunnel" in particular, with its almost zany explosion of guitar solos had me thinking back to the same feelings I had listening to Graveward. And perhaps more obviously, both bands' penchant for epic saxophone solos is apparent. Think "Tombfiller" and "Out of the Grave."
Even some of the vocals share a similar devel-may-care approach to melodrama. Just trade the J-pop influence for something a bit more on par with Winterhorde and you've pretty much got it. Once this comparison clicked, I find myself enjoying Hypnosophy on a completely different level. I had already been banging my head to more straight-forward fair like "Fire Walk With Me." The titular chorus to that song is infectious as hell, and I'm never one to pass on a Twin Peaks reference. But some of my previous concerns about more adventurous tracks like "Oneirodynia" were shot down. I was initially turned off by the opening vocals, but reconceptualizing it stylistically caused this single to grow on me in a big way. The background chanting, the ominous guitar hook, the sense of urgency...brilliant.
Overall, I don't feel like Hypnosophy covers quite as much ground as Extance, but it's a little more playful and does venture into plenty of new ground. Tracks like "Earth Tomb" are certainly testament to that. That one sounds like a bizarre mashup of Alice Cooper with a jazz ensemble and funky Faith No More bass guitar. Or something. In any case, there's plenty strangeness to enjoy from sax to sitar. Vocals definitely run the gamut as well. If you enjoy eclectic progressive music grounded in a certain black metal aesthetic, Aenaon and Hypnosophy are for you. Full album out this Friday.