Along with Morgue and Sun of Nothing, Axamenta is yet another band I have not heard in 15-20+ years that I am hearing after a really long gap in 2024. I first heard these epic, melodic Belgians on 2001’s Codex Barathi, but it was on 2006s Ever-Arch-I-Tech-Ture , where they delivered a dizzying true tour de force of progressive, melodic death metal.

The band has been doing other things over the years including doing Hollywood movie scores like Old (2021), Prey (2022), and The Pope’s Exorcist  (2023). But Spires sees the band return to the realm of metal, and they are still a challenging, dizzyingly brilliant band.

The immediate comparison is Germany’s Disillusion , and Gojira with shades of Devin Townsend and the orchestration of Fleshgod Apocalypse. The band has gotten even more progressive and experimental since Ever-Arch-I-Tech-Ture, as their movie score experience looks to have bled over into their metal output with the conceptual Spires.

Spires is a single 23-minute song split into 7 acts (though they all bleed into each other to form one solid peice). Most of these are pretty short or instrumental/spoken word/atmospheric tracks with the centerpieces being the 5th and 6th acts (“Sacristy” and “Gallery”). The movie quality of the arrangements and orchestration is from and center with the intro “Narthex” before “Pulpit” and “Nave” deliver twisty, demented numbers with an array of varied vocal changes (choirs too), time changes and riffs, and they are under 3 minutes.

“Crypt” really cements the Disillusion comparison with a dramatic build, clean vocals, and a lean death metal peak, they show the band has some heft too before the aforementioned “Sacristy” and “Gallery” deliver the meat of the EP with epic, progressive hues and yet more Hollywood quality orchestral arrangements. “Gallery” being a standout with a big, orchestral march along with death metal growls to start.

“Spires” ends the EP with an appropriate ending mood and atmosphere, especially the superbly moody chorus and its choral climactic refrain. These guys know their way around some wondrous orchestral arrangements.

A superb return after a 16-year wait and and I hope a full-length album arises in the next year or so.

[Visit the band's website]

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