Archaic Faces of Ecstasy
Amorite
Eastern countries of Europe had to deal with dictatorial governments for almost 50 years, so this is a key to understand why was so hard to see bands back then (and maybe the blockade due strained relationships between the USA and the URSS governments in those days can be another problem). It's not a matter of left-wing or right-wing ideologies (because political ideology is not a one dimensional way, there are many ways, and not only two), but of dictatorial ways (and everyone knows that it can be of left and right) and the pain and losses it causes. And to see a band as AMORITE, from Hungary, is really a good signal of freedom is resisting there, and they're releasing "Archaic Faces of Ecstasy", their second full length.
The band's music is focused on creating a brutal and aggressive form of traditional Death Metal (but not in a an Old School tendency, and has some eclectic elements on some parts), with good and balanced work on the instrumental technique (not overloading it, but not using a simple approach on this aspect), very good rhythmic changes (the contrasts between fast and slow parts is used wisely by the trio), and a massive and carnivore energetic appeal. Of course that they're not doing something that wasn't done before, but it's personal (besides they can evolve a bit more). The choice for the sonority is something that is near the classic Death Metal outfit: nasty and abrasive, but keeping things in a defined way that can be understood by anyone who listen to the album. And the crude aggressiveness of their work is coming from the choice of the instrumental tunes used on the recordings.
Musically, they are delivering very good songs for the extreme Metal fans, and "Collapsed Consciousness" (a good technical work can be heard on bass guitar and drums due the contrasts on the rhythms), "Frozen Time" (that has the same elements, but with a more somber ambience created by the guitars), "Ayahuasca" (another good technical work on the instrumental parts can be heard due the use of slow tempos, but the grunted voices are fitting in a very good way), and the somber "Footsteps in the Blaze" are the ones for enjoying the smashing-bones work of the trio.
For now, "Archaic Faces of Ecstasy" is a good release for extreme Metal maniacs, but as shown by the band itself, the future will be great to AMORITE as long as the band can evolve just a bit more.
8 / 10
Excellent
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Archaic Faces of Ecstasy" Track-listing:
1. Collapsed Consciousness
2. Frozen Time
3. Timeless Chase
4. Ayahuasca
5. Archaic Ecstasy
6. Initiation
7. Metamorphosis
8. Footsteps in the Blaze
Amorite Lineup:
Márton Sass - Vocals
Csaba - Guitars, Bass
Péter Szabó - Vocals, Drums
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