Active since the turn of the millennium, German black metal band Anael started off playing rawer and fast paced black metal but transitioned into something far more intriguing with 2005’s On Wings of Mercury. That album along with 2008’s From Arcane Fires saw the group explore the elements of the planet through twisting and turning material that incorporated slower build-ups and percussion that sometimes had an almost oriental flair to it. From Arcane Fires has become one of my favorite genre efforts over time, but for awhile it seemed like it might be the last we’d ever hear from Anael as they went silent for more than a decade following its release. When an official Bandcamp appeared out of thin air last year it seemed as though the group might be preparing to return, and that has resulted in their fourth album Mare. With water serving as the element the writing is focused on as they close out this thematic exploration and the band having grown from three to four members, they’ve once again delivered black metal that has a feeling of its own and has plenty of substance for listeners to discover.
Despite the lengthy gap, the songwriting throughout Mare feels like it bridges the gap between the more directness of On Wings of Mercury with the methodical and slow burning From Arcane Fires, but with tonality that ties into the water theme. The opener “Odyssee” gives listeners hints of this within the first few minutes, as slower and atmospheric instrumentation is interspersed with faster blasting that feels like crashing waves coming down on top of the listener. Each of the six songs utilizes this type of ebb and flow where brighter textures give way to harsher moments in a completely seamless fashion, and there are a lot of nuances waiting to be discovered underneath the surface. Anael still remains firmly rooted in black metal but pushes outwards towards elements of heavy metal and progressive rock at times which makes this a lot more melodic and atmosphere focused. “Sophia” is a particular stand-out for me, as it starts off with the type of triumphant leads and drum work that makes me think of early Greek black metal mixed with some NWOBHM, but the album as a whole consistently pulls you in with the force of the deepest oceans. With its twists and turns Mare sometimes brings Zemial and its heavily 70s influenced black/heavy metal to mind, but Anael continues to tread their own path and once again reach some truly stunning heights.
Seraphackh has been the group’s vocalist since the very beginning, bringing raspier screams that add an abrasive edge to the material no matter how mellowed out or atmospheric a particular section is. But there’s more to the performance than just screams as you’ll hear only a little way into “Odyssee” when cleaner pitches appear that bring just as much power with them as the harsher variants. You may be reminded a bit of the way that Tribulation’s recent material blended these raspier and jagged screams with sweeping melodies, though it is worth mentioning that Anael has utilized this approach before that group transitioned over from traditional death metal. There’s something to the urgency and grittiness of the performance that brings a consistent sense of intrigue and keeps you just as attuned to the music as the guitar work, and that works well throughout Mare.
I’ve awaited news of more Anael material for quite some time and their return doesn’t disappoint. With their exploration of water and the mysterious and dark depths below, they’ve incorporated more prog-like melodies and softer textures into their black metal base that still ramps up the intensity when needed. It feels like a bridge between From Arcane Fires and their earlier work that still pushes things forward, and while I’m still just a bit partial to the mystique that album offered Mare remains a stunning follow-up. This is one of those records you can get fully lost in, and here’s hoping it will bring Anael the audience they’ve deserved for two decades. Mare is available from Into Endless Chaos Records.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg
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