Araphel (or arafel) is a Hebrew word for darkness. More specifically, it is a thick, black fog that enshrouds God. The band formed in Italy in 2022, and present their debut full length album here titled “The Endchanter.” The album has seven songs, and the title track is first. There is definitely an aggressive sound, but it also swings a bit from the riff. The vocals are harsh, the bass notes are meaty, and the pacing varies from speedy to slower. “Old Comet Transition” also has some meat behind the bass notes, and I mention this because it’s an instrument that is all too often left behind. They sport it loud and proud. They also don’t have that wall of riffs which is refreshing in the genre. “Elysian Fields Ablaze” has a more somber sound, and the two can exist quite well together. The vocals have a gritty edge to them, as opposed to tortured screams.

“Scentless Epoch” has a galloping riff that moves and makes the music feel alive. Climb on, jump on, and head out to meet your waiting comrades. “A Meaning Quest – The Smile of Sisyphus” has a gritty rhythm guitar section and some harmonized parts as well. The riff is pretty simple, but also effective, as it hooks you in and places nicely with the vocals. “Tempus Edax Rerum” is a shorter, presumably segue piece to the final song. The tones are clean, somber, and somewhat mysterious, and I like the diversion. “The Song of Araphel” is the final track, and they go out with a bang. It’s a tense offering…the kind of thick fog that you can cut with a knife. Plenty dark and aggressive, they build on the structures along the way with more layers added. There are even some varied vocals presented…the cleans towards the end were filled with regret.

Overall, this was a solid listen for me. It wasn’t necessarily anything new, or even out of the box, but the band presented some somber melodies along with a heaping of darkness and aggression, and that balance created an enjoyable listening experience.