CARATHIS is here. This Austrian duo act, first formed in 2021, releasing three EP's and a split, now unleashing their compilation release "Amethyst & Moonstone," released 3rd February 2023, via Personal Records. "Amethyst & Moonstone" is a gathering of both Eps, "The Amethyst Fortress" (2021) and "The Moonstone Temple" (2023) -hence the title of the compilation -bringing nine songs in one play-through.

The first track for discussion is "The Amethyst Fortress", the fifth piece on the release, which opens with a warm atmosphere (dungeon synth) instrumental. The following track up for discussion is "The Procession," the seventh track, which welcomes the listener with a mid-pace clean -Esque Gothic-distortion riffage and clean drum strikes -followed suit with shrieking vocals -hitting that minute mark the mood of the song changes to more of an upbeat atmosphere of the keys, guitars and drums -before speeding up the tempo and switching back to this raw atmosphere.

The last track for the discussion, "The Sacred Walls", is the opening song on the release, which welcomes the listener with raw and melodic black metal with some flare of punk and folkish/power metal consisting of fast-paced rhythms, epic drum strikes and shrieking vocals -all wrapped with orchestral/symphonic atmosphere.

As I was listening to the music and inking this review, I thought this record was a somewhat enjoyable release; there were moments in "Amethyst & Moonstone" music. The atmosphere was raw with added melodic sections, including influences such as folk/punk and dance-pop rhythms in the guitar work, and the epic orchestral/symphonic, especially the end of "The Amethyst Fortress," was beautifully composed and ended the piece nicely. At the same time, the vocals were raw and cold vocal work. Even so, there seemed to be something missing in certain songs, particular elements/instrumentations did seem to fit, or times seemed to fit - Mainly track seven, "The Procession," the sudden symphonic solo, didn't seem to fit the song's mood.

"Amethyst & Moonstone," in my opinion, further I listened to this release, I struggled to pick specific songs for this review and discussion-simultaneously, I did feel like CARATHIS music didn't drag me into their musical world, as most black metal acts/bands do -that I love and fall in love with their
music -either it's dark, evil, atmospheric, symphonic, raw/old-school, modern or magical. Personal "Amethyst & Moonstone" didn't seem to have that loving feeling for me.
Finish note: I would like to end this review with a high note that the "The Amethyst Fortress" and "The Moonstone Temple" Ep's cover art are both beautiful and epic.<