Composer Reacts to Akhlys - Pnigalion (REACTION & ANALYSIS)
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- Опубліковано 30 чер 2024
- Bryan reacts to and talks about his thoughts on Pnigalion
BANDCAMP LINK // akhlys.bandcamp.com/track/pni...
VOTE ON AND SUGGEST UPCOMING THEMES AND SONGS // / criticalreactions
LINKTREE // linktr.ee/criticalreactions
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0:00 Intro
0:55 Reaction
13:39 Initial Thoughts
15:21 Analysis - The Opening Poem
20:49 Analysis - Easing Into the Weight
27:25 Analysis - Pure, Loud, Abrasiveness
38:24 Analysis - Finding A Middle Ground on Production
44:42 Analysis - Nightmares and Demons
56:57 Analysis - Tying It All Back to the Music
58:42 Outro
If I recall correctly, the band's mastermind Naas Alcameth has stated in an interview that Akhlys is a representation of his nightmares and sleep paralys experiences. The lady in the cover artwork is his sleep paralysis demon. That would really explain the horror, creepy, haunting and ominous atmosphere that all the songs dwell in, since sleep paralysis can really be a terrifying thing to be in.
More likely a reference to Achlys (Ἀχλύς), the mist shed upon mortal eyes in death (Homer) and the personification of sorrow (Shield of Heracles): _"Beside them stood Ἀχλὺς, gloomy and dread, pallid, parched, cowering in hunger, thick-kneed; long claws were under her hands. From her nostrils flowed mucus, from her cheeks blood was dripping down onto the ground. She stood there, grinning dreadfully, and much dust, wet with tears, lay upon her shoulders."_
It's one of the best albums of 2020. Terrifying album!
Do you prefer it over The Dreaming I though, is the question!
Yes. Better than The Dreaming I.@@2wings1bird90
Awesome. I've heard this album so many times since it came out. I'm happy you're reacting to it.
Edit: 43:18 The guy who mixed the album is Dave Otero, he also mixed Archspire. He's pretty good. I also have the stems for the first track in this album. The guitars/bass/vocals/synths were recorded by the band, except for the drums, they were recorded in his studio. The di's for the guitars/bass are kinda rough, I'm impressed how good of a mix he managed to get tbh.
I love Akhlys so much, I know no other who can create such a thick creeping, hateful atmosphere like them!
Funeral Mist.
Naas Alcameth - the leader of this project, is well known among the underground for some of the best black metal projects of the last decade, Nightbringer (his main band), Aoratos and Bestia Arcana all share similar traits and definitely stand in the front when it comes to high quality black metal that still doesn't leave the realm of harshness and dark atmosphere. He is a genius when it comes to composing and songwriting and the music he creates are soundtracks for themes he covers.
Bestia Arcana - "Holókauston" being maybe the best example of it, as it is basically a soundtrack to the Book of Revelation, the sound this album creates is almost theatrical, in a most apocalyptic and terrifying way that is. I believe its his best work to date and the production on that album is unbelievable, it's somehow one of the most massive and in-your-face production I've ever heard yet everything is clean and audible despite the layers upon layers of sound building up to orgasmic soundscapes. The vocals are pretty unusual for black metal as well, as they're rather low, and sound more like a deep growly narration/wrathful shouting that has a massive impact on the atmosphere!
If you'd be interested I suggest listening/reacting to Bestia Arcana - Hellmouth, I believe it would be a *perfect* pick for this weeks theme but maybe next time!
Take care!
Thanks for all of this great info about this person. It's nice to know that he sticks with that clean dirtiness for all of his projects too. I'll def have to check out more of his works.
@@CriticalReactions you should definitely review the song “Iniquity” by the above mentioned Bestia Arcana. You think this vocal performance was terrifying? The above track is even crazier. It’s like a mad deranged orator.
@@whodeytko Yeah see....that isn't appealing to me 😅 If it ended up on the channel then I'd of course do it but I'm not a big fan of terrifying songs or performances.
That pause in the song that was pretty long before it exploded into everything scared the crap out of me the first time I listened to this album in total darkness by myself. I definitely did not see that coming and the timing was just so strange that most people would never guess it was coming upon first listen.
Never heard of them, but this was REALLY awesome. Immediately went out and bought their discography (just two albums) before the track even finished. Reminds me a lot of Deathspell Omega, one of my favorite bands out there right now. Love this kinda proggy, avant-garde BM, and the great production really helps music that's this dense. Really cool to hear how BM has basically evolved from metal's version of punk to stuff like this that's quasi-proggy/psychedelic and nightmarish.
Prog and Kraut rock were ALWAYS huge influences on black metal, since the very beginning.
This album blew me away in 2020. I really enjoyed the entire atmosphere. Very haunting and nightmarish- after looking up Melinoë, made perfect sense!
I think this might be the closest to “hifi” this week. I remember listening to it and being amazed at how big the sound was without being muddled up. Almost every instrument can be discerned. I really love how the guitars carry the melody. Most are pretty catchy and find myself whistling them during the day.
One thing that really stood out to me was the spaciousness in the mix. There’s obviously a huge wall of sound which is impressive, but the space 1) creates a contrast to the constant attack and 2) deepens the ominous feeling- kinda like the silence in a horror movie.
I love the melody by the guitars. It cuts through the mix. They’re also pretty catchy (6:00 and around 8:20 are some of my favorite moments in the album).
I think this was a perfect last song for the week. This album set the bar for BM for me- Crushing, haunting, dark, melodic, grand, atmospheric, intensity
…even though I would’ve preferred my pick ;) oh well, I’ll request it during another week!
What’re your thoughts at the end of this week??
You're right about this being a great way to wrap up the week. If this had been first then I think the other 4 would have disappointed me, production wise. I don't know that I would have had the same revelations throughout the week.
As for my thoughts on the week, I'm still not sure where I stand. I certainly have more of an understanding of BM now. And I've heard some BM that might be a bridge album for me. But I think BM might just be one of those genres that isn't for me. I've heard a lot of different kinds of BM now and they go all across the listenability scale for me, but none have come close to something I'd actively seek out to listen to yet. Maybe there is a mythical BM album out there for me 😅But I'm OK with simply understanding and appreciating the nuance of it at a distance right now.
@@CriticalReactions awesome! Definitely understandable! I’m glad you did this week, as the community was very engaged. The discussion was great and I learned a ton as well. I’m excited for next week since it’s a genre I know little about. Thanks!
@@CriticalReactions I know you probably have a long list and many recommendations ahead, but I would greatly encourage you to give this song a chance! I can't say I've heard you talk of playing drums like guitar, but it's hands-down the most exploratory modern drumming I've heard, perhaps in metal in general. I'm sure you would find it highly interesting, at the very least.
ua-cam.com/video/bSWTVOx4hJ4/v-deo.html
Super pumped to see this reaction, love this band so much, this really nails the energy plus melody combo I love in metal.
2:49 had the same reaction when I first heard that part of the song.
archspire and akhlys had the same engineer. hands down to dave otero
sleep well bryan
That dude deserves some recognition. He's got a lot of stuff coming at him and he finds a way to make it palatable every. single. time.
Well then... Props to that dude for making such thick yet precise mixes. They're killer.
This was definitely one of the best albums of 2020. They captured the theme of album (nightmares, dark dream experiences, sleep paralysis) so well in their music and it just feels song by song a descending spiral deeper into the nightmare realm which you can't escape. Such a cool album.
Oh boy, your people are recommending some of the real deal stuff! You got a real lesson in _dark_ with this one! Naas profusely regurgitates profoundly dark constructions of despair. A dreary sonic indulgence for those select moments.
Really good analysis! Not over-exaggerated or anything like that. 😄
These guys are my Ulcerate of Black Metal 👌 I bang this stuff in my veins it is that flipping good ☝️Such an epic album
Dude check out the new Inanna!
Absolutely masterpiece of an album. The production is by done Dave Otero, aslo the producer on the recent Archespire and Inferi albums. Crazy clear and balanced mix
Fuck yeah gotta do some Nightbringer now
one of the two newest black metal projects i'm into along with Esoctrilihum, both 'enrich' the black metal formula with something fresh, in the case of Akhlys for me it was the underlying synth that reminded me a lot of some dark-electro bands i used to listen to years ago (god module, psyclon nine) so it was definitely a new experience, also the combination and execution results in a uniquely oppressive atmosphere
as far as black metal vocals go usually its a variation on this higher pitched shriek but there are outliers most notably attila csihar currently of mayhem and tom g fisher from celtic frost and triptykon
He doesnt want to hear this Song twice, meanwhile me listening to it 6 Times in a row (and I cant Listen to songs more than 2 times)
I would have suggested Ephialtes as a tune but excited to scope this video either way. Album is pretty killer.
Oh man, that grimace when the double kicks come in. Perfection haha.
Fascinating band
this album is a beast i love it!
Oh yes
Love Naas Alcameth's projects. Another band that seems to be going for creepy and nightmarish vibes is Terra Tenebrosa. Definitely recommend them. You also mentioned dissonance, which got me thinking of Portal. I was going to recommend them too but then you mentioned dissonance again as I was typing this and apparently that's not your thing 😁
What a beautiful band…
You mentioned tension.. The first time i listened to this cd it made me feel uncomfortable as a listener... And i think its becsuse of the tension the music has.. And i loved it
Dude if you like the strange horror feelings like this check out the album called The Reverses by Terra Tenebrosa.