It is December, it is winter and for me it is the best period of the year that I find pleasure in listening to Metal, and discovering new bands. This time, I received the first EP of the band IMMORTAL BIRD entitled "Akrasia" for a review. This trio of American Black / Death Metal was recently formed after an initiative by Rae Amitay, the drummer of the band "Thrawsunblat", with guitarist Evan Berry and bassist John Picillo.

The style of IMMORTAL BIRD is unpredictable, a merger between Black and Death with a good dose of melodies. On a lot of it there are some elements of Doom that fits perfectly in all songs. The song "Akratic Seminar" is a perfect example of this combination of style, with remarkable escalation in tempos and atmosphere. The songwriting is very well done reflecting the musical maturity of Rae Amitay, who assure vocal parts and writing lyrics as well. The purpose of creating an unhealthy atmosphere is achieved with brutal passages as the song "Ashen Scabland", piece that incorporates a psychedelic nuance and arrangements which I could call progressive. Some polyrhythms sometimes blend with the classic blast beats of the Death / Black oddly mixed with riffs and harmonies, you should listen to the first track "Spitting Teeth". The bass guitar plays a crucial role in the intensity of different grooves and assisting the double bass drums. Try to listen to "The Pseudoscientist" to notice all these elements. The production is relatively raw, and it adds more personality to the overall sound of the EP.

Although this is only an EP of 4 tracks, I found that it is rich and diverse on several levels. Rae's voice is very present on most parts which show the great effort behind the microphone. I am sure that what is still prepared in rehearsals for the upcoming productions of IMMORTAL BIRD will be even more amazing!