Achren are from Scotland and play Black Metal. This is their latest EP.
This is Black Metal with a healthy melodic side and a hard, Thrash edge to some of the riffs.
The vocals are mainly high pitched screeches designed to strip paint and puncture ear drums. These are joined by the occasional deeper growl that sounds quite fearsome. The vocal rhythms used are in sync with the music and are much more catchy than a lot bands playing this style. This is especially noticeable in The Eschatologist.
The White Death has a good recording and everything sounds in-your-face, much like the band themselves.
The melodic Black Metal romps along at a fair pace with the Thrashier riffs adding some groove. The songs are well-written and the band clearly know what they’re doing. The melodies are memorable and there are some very good tunes here.
The more you listen to this the more you realise that these songs are very, very good indeed and this is a very, very talented band. There’s nothing especially new or original here, (the same can be said of almost every band), but their talent and skill shows in the songs themselves – these are just incredibly strong songs.
At only 3 tracks in 15 minutes this EP provides a decent intro to the band whilst also leaving you hungry for more.
Catchy, memorable and with a good degree of bite; this is a great EP.
Favourite Track: The Eschatologist. What a brilliant song. Can’t say better than that.
Wonderbox Metal 