This is the debut album from black metal band Achathras.
A mysterious entity, formed by veterans of the scene apparently, Achathras certainly know their stuff. A Darkness of the Ancient Past contains 43 minutes of classic 90s black metal, and it’s pretty damn good.
A Darkness of the Ancient Past is perfectly titled. It’s a glorious hymn to Scandinavian black metal. It’s awash with atavistic second wave atmosphere and almost sounds like it could have been kept in a sealed vault somewhere for 30 years, only now to be unleashed in all of its infernal Satanic splendour.
The music takes key components from the 90s era and forges them afresh across nine compelling tracks. Essentially, if you’re a fan of the sort of thing that bands like Ancient, Dimmu Borgir, Emperor, Gehenna, and Old Man’s Child were putting out decades ago, then this is very much for you.
Achathras reek of nostalgia for me, but this is only part of why I like A Darkness of the Ancient Past. The other part is simply that this is well-written, well-performed, and well-executed black metal. It’s been created by people that clearly know the artform inside and out, and their passion, attention to detail, and clarity of purpose come through loud and clear.
Epic melodies soar to the heavens, while blackened claws rend and tear. Triumphant riffs herald the end times, while synths layer the music like morning frost. The screams are venomous, and the drums uncompromising. The atmosphere across the whole of the record is thickly rendered, transporting the listener to cursed realms where the winterdemons prowl and hunt.
If 90s symphonic black metal hits the spot for you, then don’t miss out on this darkened gem. Achathras have produced an album that’s easy to enjoy for fans of the style.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 