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Band: Exgenesis
Album title: Aphotic Veil [EP]
Release date: 25 January 2015
Label: Rain Without End Records
Tracklist:
01. Cloudburst
02. Concrematio
03. Aphotic
04. Futile Horizon
05. Noctua
“I am a forest, and a night of dark trees: but he who is not afraid of my darkness, will find banks full of roses under my cypresses.”
Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra
I don't know if this is an appropriate quote, but while I'm listening to the debut release from Exgenesis those words written by the great German philosopher were circulating through my head. It's darkness that you'll find in Aphotic Veil, but in this dark and chaotic sonic world there's much more, there are shimmering traces of sparkling beauty, gardens filled with cosy sweet sadness and most of all there's something that has the power to lift the burden from your spine and make it a bit more bereable. Aphotic Veil is order and chaos, it has something mystical in its core, something uncertain and even if its nature is brutal and often goes to the extremes it has enough tenderness.
And is nothing strange in that, especially if you know that the main composer of those traces is Jari Lindholm, the man who was sharpening his skills in now defunct melodic doom metallers Slumber, then in atmospheric post-metal/rock act AtomA, and most recently he surprised everyone with his very own gothic/doom band Enshine, yet that's not everything as Mr. Lindholm is involved also in the instrumental post-rock band Seas Of Years. His unique, often melodic and technical guitar play has became almost a trademark and with his compositional skills Jari must be noted as one of the most significant musicians in the dark/doom/atmospheric/gothic/post metal scene of the last years. Exgenesis is absolutely his darkest creation until now, and for this he teamed up with Colombian vocalist Alejandro Lotero, known from melodic doom/death metal band Antithesis.
Exgenesis is at first glance nothing else but a typical doom/death metal band, thus this is the basis of their musical output. Already with the first two tracks the two deliver fully controled crushing but still melodic sound and thanks to the powerful, deep guttural Alejandro's voice with occasional shrieks it's brutally obscure as hell. Alejandro's contribution to the sound of Exgenesis is huge, his voice gives depth and a rough blackened edge and it's perfectly heard that he gives his best possible performance. Still the most impressive thing are those guitar layers, you'll get everything, from heavy destructive riffs, fine leads, to gentle obtrusive melodic lines always keeping the right dose of intriguing ambiance. Just listen to the instrumental "Aphotic" where a strong post-metal/rock influence comes to the surface, or how the things develop in "Futile Horizon", from almost a complete death metal drama, going through mid paced doom with sparkling guitar touches, great guitar solo in the middle, and with a fantastic ending where with the insertion of atmospheric post-metal/shoegaze elements the atmosphere becomes so very dense and fascinating.
The heaviness is always kept at the highest possible level with powerfull rhythmic line, yet sometimes reinforced with spherical dark keys, but even when Exgenesis goes into full turbulent blast everything is well controlled and the melodic factor is often kept on the line. If searching for some influences on Aphotic Veil, I think that there's a wide choice to be listed, but it's sure that doom/death metal bands from the mid-nineties must be the biggest inspiration and influence. But yet those five tracks have the necessary uniqueness and above all the sound is so very fresh and modern thanks to the very well done and polished production. It really seems that the name Jari Lindholm became a guarantee for qualitatively done music with a huge emphasis on melody and atmosphere, even when it comes to the extreme and brutal kind of art.
Review written by: T.V.
Rating: 8,5/10
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