Acephalix initially caught my attention in 2010 with their album Aporia, released on Prank Records. That record eventually got an honorary mention on my ‘Best of 2010’ list, in no short part because it had a unique combination of metal and hardcore, and while I realize that sounds like nothing new, they turn this seemingly straightforward genre splice into a detailed chemistry project instead of simple mathematics. It’s also one reason why their newest offering, Interminable Night, is worth your attention.
With this Bay Area act, it’s not just the basic addition of ‘metal + hardcore’ that gets them a unique sound, it’s more complex and nuanced in each of those respective genres. For starters, the hardcore is dark and crusty, minus melody and add some dirt, Amebix comes to mind, and then you’re getting a bit warmer. The metal aspect is much more of an old school Swedish death metal influence, along the lines of Nihilist, Entombed and Asphyx. The vocals also bring to mind some recent retro death and doom acts, such as Claws, Hooded Menace and the like, centering around a slightly atmospheric/reverb tinged death-grunt.
Previous record Aporia made excellent use of varying speed and approach, front-loading a little more of the crusty hardcore influence. On Interminable Night, the band really zeroes in on more of a mid-pace pocket, albeit with some thrashy-gallop flourishes sprinkled throughout, and a much more pronounced deathmetal emphasis… and it is FUCKING heavy. Their brand of crunchy riffing really lends to the darker vibe in each song, and while it’s harder to hear glaring differences between the seven songs (my one main gripe), their cohesion into a mold that is both very powerful and singularly focused is truly a brutal force. Even the artwork, which I’m not entirely sure what I’m looking at, adds to the overbearing motif. These guys are heavy, and this collection of songs stands as a unified front of crunchy, crusty deathmetal that doesn’t rely on gore, satanic posturing or any other novelties to convey that heaviness.
Apparently this album is a limited pressing of 2,000, I’ve seen it written that only 1,000 were pressed elsewhere, but I’ll trust the press release that says 2k. The band is on tour in the U.S. through the middle of June and then heads over for a full European tour during September and October, be sure you check them out.
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scored copy number 1980 of 2000 of this. really good. also check out Drainland’s new one, similar limited release, cool as hell.
on Jun 3rd, 2011 at 10:29And here I was stuck with a digital copy like a sucker! :P P.S. I bet these guys crush live.
on Jun 3rd, 2011 at 10:40i need to check this out
on Jun 3rd, 2011 at 10:41all credit to Southern Lord for getting some great new stuff a little outside their usual boundaries.
on Jun 3rd, 2011 at 14:53Good comparison to Hooded Menace… really like their new one. Also hear some Revolting and Skeletal Spectre in there though I don’t find these guys have the same level of heavy/sludge that I like. But not bad at all…
on Jun 11th, 2011 at 18:56I need to listen to that Skeletal Spectre record some more. All I can remember is there was some serious Tom G. Warrior-influenced tones of the guitar playing (not a bad thing!)
on Jun 13th, 2011 at 00:03