AENAON
I hate intro tracks. It's something I've mentioned before, of course, but it strikes me as a lazy way to create filler. Often they're not even remotely connected to the music that follows, and that really boils my piss. However, today, I am willing to give Aenaon a pass; their intro track 'The First Art' (whatever that title means; piano is hardly synonymous with cave painting) is beautiful. You could also argue that the piece is loosely tied to "Algernon's Decadence", which features late in the album. But, we're not here to dwell on intro tracks. Aenaon are, in their own words, 'progressive black metal with a jazzy twist'. It's easy to snigger these days at anyone choosing to incorporate the 'jazz' word to their music, or any such complex genre tag; how many genres do we need? And snigger you may, as it's ludicrous to describe anything metal as jazz-like. A few chords, and a penchant for complex time-signatures, does not a genre make. So, as far as I'm concerned, 'progressive black metal' sums it up nicely (with a touch of death metal, if you must). If anything, their music echoes early works by Ephel Duath, and Davide Tiso hated the 'jazz' term too.
Anyway, debates over genres aside, I'm relieved to say that Aenaon's 'Extance' is awash with moments of beard-stroking nods to complex writing, as well as being brutal enough to get the mosh pit pulsing in a sea of sweat and contorted faces. It's not to say that Aenaon have created anything particularly unique here; they haven't. But what they do is more than pastiche of their chosen forebears. Black metal, of course, is well known for having extremely 'dedicated' fans, so it's fair to say that opinion will be divided over this. In fact, vocals aside, it's perhaps becoming a stretch to continue using the 'black' prefix when it comes to music such as this (progressive extreme metal doesn't quite cut it, however). But, if you're open-minded enough to allow Enslaved to continue under the banner of black metal, then you'll forgive Aenaon the use of the term. In fact, Enslaved are a good reference point for their general sound (including the aforementioned Ephel Duath-alike influence). So, I can happily recommend Aenaon to you if you are a fan of progressive music; leaning towards the extreme edges of the genre.
Anyway, debates over genres aside, I'm relieved to say that Aenaon's 'Extance' is awash with moments of beard-stroking nods to complex writing, as well as being brutal enough to get the mosh pit pulsing in a sea of sweat and contorted faces. It's not to say that Aenaon have created anything particularly unique here; they haven't. But what they do is more than pastiche of their chosen forebears. Black metal, of course, is well known for having extremely 'dedicated' fans, so it's fair to say that opinion will be divided over this. In fact, vocals aside, it's perhaps becoming a stretch to continue using the 'black' prefix when it comes to music such as this (progressive extreme metal doesn't quite cut it, however). But, if you're open-minded enough to allow Enslaved to continue under the banner of black metal, then you'll forgive Aenaon the use of the term. In fact, Enslaved are a good reference point for their general sound (including the aforementioned Ephel Duath-alike influence). So, I can happily recommend Aenaon to you if you are a fan of progressive music; leaning towards the extreme edges of the genre.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Code666
Album
EXTANCE
Review by Steve Cowan
RUNNING TIME:
65:18
RELEASE DATE:
20th Jan 2014
TRACK LISTING
1) The First Act
2) Deathtrip Chronicle
3) Grau Diva
4) A Treatise on the Madness of God
5) Der Mude Tod
6) Pornocrates
7) Closer to Scaffold
8) Land of No Water
9) Algernon's Decadence
10) Funeral Blues
11) Palindrome
2) Deathtrip Chronicle
3) Grau Diva
4) A Treatise on the Madness of God
5) Der Mude Tod
6) Pornocrates
7) Closer to Scaffold
8) Land of No Water
9) Algernon's Decadence
10) Funeral Blues
11) Palindrome
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Greece
"...Aenaon's 'Extance' is awash with moments of beard-stroking nods to complex writing, as well as being brutal enough to get the mosh pit pulsing in a sea of sweat and contorted faces."
