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Band: Agrypnie
Album title: Aetas Cineris
Release date: 15 March 2013
Label: Supreme Chaos Records
Tracklisting:
01. Trümmer/Aetas Cineris
02. Dezember
03. Gnōsis
04. Kosmos (Alpha)
05. Zurück
06. Erwachen
07. Sinnflut
08. Asche
What has started as a solo project back in 2004, has now developed in one of the most eleborate, flowing "meisterwerk" ever done in so called post-metal or avantgarde metal genre. Agrypnie are a German band, where Torsten Hirsch is the main and most responsible member for bands sonic output. Aetas Cineris is bands fourth full lenght album, although here are some songs that could be found also on their EP Asche, released in 2011. Those who are familiar with Agrypnies previous releases know what to expect, but belive me that on Aetas Cineris you can enjoy even more in those special bleak atmospheres and gory melodies that became their trademark.
Eight epic tracks on this album have still that typical black metal spirit from which the band emerged, but there is much, really much more and you'll get aware of this in the first few seconds of the opener "Trümmer/Aetas Cineris". Even if the songs are around ten minutes long and album has 77 minutes of music, there is so much going on that it's almost too short. Guitarist Torsten and Martin are amazing, there is no pointless riff, melodies within all this well controled aggression are something to be experienced in its fullness. Not to mention the amazing leads that emerge like phoenix from this grimness, just listen to greatness of "Gnosis" or aggressive and most rough track up here "Erwachen". Drumming is another story per se, strong, furious, yet very technical and dynamic. Yes, dynamics are the thing that make this album so flowing and listenable. Torsten has a great harsh voice, somehow very cold, it has depth and it adds a lot of atmosphere. When you almost think that the band will loose the pace, there comes amazing keys and another background curtain of darkness unveils, it blends so well together that all instruments and vocals are becoming like one compact structure.
Agrypnie are masters in tempo changes. So amazingly and almost unnoticeable the listener is lead from fast into slower (not too slow) and mid tempo soundscapes. The adventure is interrupted with ambiental atmospheric sonic masterpiece "Kosmos (Alpha)", believe me that this is like a breeze of northern air in too warm summer, fantastic. "Sinnflut" in its last part and the last track "Asche" offer some relaxing acoustic passages, shoegaze elements, before everything ends in marvelous solemn way.
Each riff, melody, in short the whole album has kind of melancholy in it, somehow it's like a scream of repressed pain. It's a complex album, but the complexity is not a prominent thing, the song structures are done in a way that the drive and flow are never lost or interupted with unnecessary intricate technical exhibits, the band leaves those songs up here to breathe, so the listener can almost consume the whole album in one large bite. It's unfair to give any genre labels or search for similarities with other bands, even if there could be found, but that's not my intention, I rather enjoy this masterpiece without those preocupations and so I suggest to you, believe me, it's a great experience.
Lyrics are all in German language, but it doesn't matter, even if you don't understand it as the listener can set up easily his own pictures and stories in his mind. Production of this album is without mistake, it adds a lot of strenght and depth to the sound. I was also amazed with great eerie album artwork that summarizes the atmosphere of the sole music in a splendid way. Nothing more to be said! Wonderful!
Review written by: T.V.
Rating: 9,5/10
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