On June 29, 2020, ATHANATHEOS released "Prophetic Era (Or How Yahveh Became The One)." ATHANATHEOS is a death metal band from France. They formed in 2004, originally with the name SOUL REJECTED, and released a demo. In 2012, they changed their name to ATHANATHEOS to fit the concepts and themes presented in their music. "Prophetic Era" is ATHANATHEOS' second album, following their 2012 debut "Alpha Theistic."

"Alpha Theistic" and "Prophetic Era" fit within ATHANATHEOS' ambitious overarching theme of atheism. Their dedication to that theme is admirable and thorough, as everything from the band name to the lyrics echoes the theme. There will even be more albums released in the future to continue this concept. Musically, ATHANATHEOS is best described as a blend of black and death metal. There is a good amount of doom metal influence. Many times, the music meditates on a single, moody riff. Growling vocals are accented by Gregorian chants. The drums and bass guitar have notable parts that show they're not just there for support.

"Samaria" fades in with a thick and low riff, setting the mood for the rest of the album. Many parts of the song are quite doom-laden. Things pick up on the second track "One Against All." Fast blast beats and tremolo picking weave together. In the middle of the song, there is a duet of sorts between the growling male vocals and a clean male voice delivering what sounds like a speech. It adds interest to the music, giving life to the concept ATHANATHEOS is trying to convey.

The middle tracks are not too memorable and don't stand out to me, even after repeated listens. "(R)evolution, Revelation" and "You Shall Not Be" are solid blackened death metal tracks though. They show ATHANATHEOS is focused on more than just their concept. Their music has a great groove, a full sound (rounded out by the bass and drums), and aggressive riffs. The last track, "There Was No Soul, There Is Death, There Shall Never Be A Life Beyond (Soul Injected Part III)," is a great closer. The long song title is for an equally long 13-minute track. Due to the dynamic song structure and evolving sound, the length is barely felt.

Overall, I recommend "Prophetic Era (Or How Yahveh Became The One)," especially to fans of blackened death metal. Fans of BATUSHKA, BEHEMOTH, and ROTTING CHRIST may appreciate the aggressive, riff heavy music and atheistic themes. Their album is worth a listen for the moody atmosphere and thoughtful meditation on religion.