Towards Atlantis Lights are an international atmospheric doom metal band. This is their second album.
Brought to us by members of Pantheist, Aphonic Threnody, Dea Marica, Arrant Saudade, and Void of Silence, this is the follow up to 2018’s Dust of Aeons, and contains 61 minutes of new material.
The music on When the Ashes Devoured the Sun combines funeral doom, death/doom, old-school doom metal, and atmospheric doom, into epic songs that are slow, melodic, and drenched in mood.
Rich atmospheric keyboards and emotive leads layer the music like a fine coating of bleakness and melancholic woe. The feelings they evoke are strengthened further by the rich musical foundation that underpins the songs. The thick heaviness of the rhythm guitars is tempered by this melodicism, ensuring that almost every part of this music is tailored for getting the most out the dismal moods and grim atmospheres that the band create with such ease.
Although the primary mode of delivery is that of slow, crushing atmospheric doom metal, the music does operate at multiple speeds, providing some variety to the lonesome moods you’ll mainly find on this release. The songs are built carefully and develop gradually. The band are skilled at their art and experienced enough to know when to pull back and let the music breathe and expand, as well as also knowing when to do the opposite and to layer everything thickly on to great effect.
The vocals are performed very well. A range of different growls are used, as is clean singing that adds yet another emotive weapon to the band’s arsenal.
When the Ashes Devoured the Sun is both a logical progression from Dust of Aeons and a step forward in delivery, songwriting, and overall quality.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 