Eisenwald is pleased to announce the release of ARKAAIK’s sophomore full-length release, “Uihtis” (English: "the hunt"). They are one of the most fascinating entities to have emerged from Jünger Tumilon (formerly known as Helvetic Underground Committee), the notorious Zürich, Switzerland-based circle around Ungfell, Dakhma, as well as many others. The act of "the hunt" is explored on two distinct levels: While half of the album is dedicated to the very real act of hunting an animal and the ceremonial slaughter of the sacred creature, the other half takes a different approach by exploring the theme on a transcendental level – here the sun “hunts“ the moon and vice versa.

“Geutores Suhnos” is first. The air fills with a thick smoke, and something stirs. Heavy bass notes begin to rumble, and tom drums. When the harsh vocals enter, the landscape is full. It moves with a hypnotic edge, but also, once in motion, it can’t be slowed or stopped. They have a primal power in the music…something that can’t be denied. Just before the halfway mark, it speeds up, and as the beast prepares to spring, you had better move. The ritual continues, with much blood shed. “Hagrah Gurres” is still part of the hunt and ceremonial slaughter that the band talks about, and images that come up for me are Viking warriors in a cold, snowy landscape, hunting large prey for the survival of their people. I’m not sure which is thicker or rougher…the bass, the pounding drums, the deep gutturals, or the riffs.

“Hrkþos Heshr Hiagom” is where the first half of the album concludes, and the second half, the “transcendental” level, picks up. It another slow, grinding song that just pounds at your skull like a migraine, and the cadenced vocals join in the beating. “Kerhos Mehnsos” is the final song. The pounding, ritualistic sound continues here. Close to the halfway mark, the beating finally subsides, in favor of atmosphere, which sounds almost prehistoric to me. The weighted sound returns though for one final punishment, and you shrink down in horror as the blows reign. This was an uncommon listening experience for me. The music was primal, and seemed to come from the distant past…not decades ago, centuries ago. The themes were reflected well in the music also. This one is for Extreme Metal fans who want something off the beaten path a bit.