Super fan of our site, Mauricio, threatened me if I did not give this one the full review treatment. Rightly so. This is one of the most consistently impressive and engaging amalgams of styles I have heard in some time. It is worthy of the coveted 10/10...something I try not to give out too often (this is only the 4th or so by my count). Anyways, Aenaon is a progressive black metal band from Greece. They have been around since 2005, but it has taken me this long to catch on to their greatness with 2014's Extance.
Where to even begin? There is a lot going on here. The album plays out like a blackened death metal melodrama worthy of any stage. I haven't been able to decipher what the larger concept is, but the lyrics do seem to follow some sort of story, or at least a core idea. And the way the various vocal deliveries carry these ideas is extraordinary. The harsh vocals are intensely commanding, especially on "Deathtrip Chronicle" and "Der Mude Tod," utilizing both English and German. Then there are the trippy baritone cleans and occasional female leads which are equally captivating. Such passion.
Of course there is also the instrumentation to consider. True to the "progressive" tag, Aenaon take the drums and guitar through a seemingly endless array of tone, pace, and style. You've got your raging blastbeats and tremolos, your Opethian riffs, acoustic/piano interludes, soaring symphonic builds, and even a bit of jazz as well. If that wasn't enough, there are some truly exquisite saxophone solos and organ music to be found on Extance. "Land of No Water" is like Blackwater Park meets Sigh. Harmonica and old-timey piano outro? Sign me up. Put simply, the list of elements that this album does not utilize would be a much shorter read.
And in the end, everything comes together flawlessly. This is no mere patchwork, but an exquisite display of method and order. It's as if Extance were a work of some dark science as opposed to a group of musicians. Taking it a step further, I am in awe of just how infectious these tracks are despite their extreme nature and focus on art over accessibility. "Closer to Scaffold" has me throwing up a fist in time with the gang vocals every single time. I don't know what I'm calling out for, but I'm not going to be left out either. This is essential stuff for any fan of prog, black, or death metal. I am excited to say that the band has a new album near completion as well, so put your time in with this one, hit that "follow" button, and be ready for the next round soon.
