Athura - A Hand In Deaths Design
We featured Athura a while back, so when they dropped us a line about their new tracks I was looking forward to hearing how their sound had developed since we’d last heard them. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you A Hand In Death’s Design.
Opening with Unlearning there’s one thing made very clear from the off, this is a heavy album and is not to be entered into lightly. Imagine music as a fairground ride, this would be the scariest ride on the planet with a health warning so insane that practically no-one would be able to go on it – it’s serious stuff! Pounding drums combine with raw guitar work, hammering vocal lines and enough power to leave venues as nothing but dust, it’s one hell of a sound that the guys have managed to achieve. There’s no relent with the onset of Drown What You’ve Become, once again launching into the track with enough power to leave you weak at the knees and begging for a rest. The signature sounds of Athura are still there meaning you know you’re listening to them, but the power they’ve managed to achieve within these recordings is quite frankly astonishing – it’s a whole new level of insanity – and I love it.
Plague Upon Plague once again continues the raucous approach to things, launching into the track with a melee of hammering guitar work, pounding drum lines, roving bass and a roar which will shock even the heaviest of fans. Despite the all out heavy approach to things, the guys have also managed to incorporate elements of funk into the track meaning it’s the sort of thing which is going to get crowds moving on the live scene – something I have to get out and check out. Oceans continues this idea, only this time building into the track beginning with a deceptively soft introduction, before blowing your mind with another set of hammering riffs and pounding drums. Heavy and melodic once again, what’s becoming increasingly clear throughout each track on this album is how the band have progressed as a unit, developing their sound to make sure they continue to evolve and change, continue to hit new levels and continue to reach out to new audiences. This track is one of my personal favourites from the album, largely down to the heavy main sections and the softer breaks which create contrasts throughout the track – quite simply, it’s awesome.
Beyond The Pale returns us to the insanity of the early parts of the album, once again reminding us that this is a heavy ride and we should be thankful we’ve been invited along for it. Picking up the pace to throw us into circle pit territory, this track stands out as a moment crafted for the live scene, the sort of track which is going to secure these guys one hell of a reputation when they’re out gigging the tracks. Title track A Hand In Death’s Design comes up next and demonstrates one main thing, this is not a band to underestimate. Growing in power from the opening, this track has moments of sheer power, syncopated moments demonstrating the bands ability to incorporate complexity into their mix, and moments which will sit you on your ass and simply make you think wow, this is intense. Intricate guitar work, pounding drums, enough bass to flatten a city and a sense of melody which will capture your attention from the off, this is a serious highpoint on the album, showing that Athura aren’t just bringing out a new album, they’re bringing out a new sound which is going to take over the world.
Fading Will almost leads on from the previous track, but once again returns us to the venom fuelled moments from earlier on in the album, crafting a track which is going to get pits moving, people jumping and pansies running for their lives – this is once again some serious stuff. Powerful, heavy, distorted – none of these words do this track justice – it’s quite frankly insane, but oh so good. The theme of all out power and aggression continues into For We Were Many, once again crafting a track which is going to get people moving, venues pumping and air guitars being thrown out all over the place. Heavy and yet melodic and, at times, bordering on the catchy, this is another of my personal favourites from the album – it’s the sort of music you whack on at the end of a bad day and it makes you feel infinitely better about everything – and is another one which I need to see on the live scene.
Closing with Mirrors there’s one last chance to bear witness to just how insane a band can be when they set their minds to it, closing on a serious high and leaving you with no doubt that Athura are on the road towards the big time. The final moments on this album once again demonstrate what happens when a band works, when a band connects with one another and works together as a unit to craft an album, and understand the sound they want to achieve from the album. Closing on a high would suggest there are low moments on the album, but my god when the end comes on this album, it’s a damned good ending.
I remember when I first heard Athura (about a year ago) and I was blown away by their sound, well they’ve just beaten it. The new album that these guys have come up with competes with any of the metal albums I own for production and raw power, it’s quite frankly an album which I will remember for the rest of my life, an album which puts everything in perspective, and an album which has just renewed my faith in the direction of metal – go and get it.
To find out more about Athura, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls.
Opening with Unlearning there’s one thing made very clear from the off, this is a heavy album and is not to be entered into lightly. Imagine music as a fairground ride, this would be the scariest ride on the planet with a health warning so insane that practically no-one would be able to go on it – it’s serious stuff! Pounding drums combine with raw guitar work, hammering vocal lines and enough power to leave venues as nothing but dust, it’s one hell of a sound that the guys have managed to achieve. There’s no relent with the onset of Drown What You’ve Become, once again launching into the track with enough power to leave you weak at the knees and begging for a rest. The signature sounds of Athura are still there meaning you know you’re listening to them, but the power they’ve managed to achieve within these recordings is quite frankly astonishing – it’s a whole new level of insanity – and I love it.
Plague Upon Plague once again continues the raucous approach to things, launching into the track with a melee of hammering guitar work, pounding drum lines, roving bass and a roar which will shock even the heaviest of fans. Despite the all out heavy approach to things, the guys have also managed to incorporate elements of funk into the track meaning it’s the sort of thing which is going to get crowds moving on the live scene – something I have to get out and check out. Oceans continues this idea, only this time building into the track beginning with a deceptively soft introduction, before blowing your mind with another set of hammering riffs and pounding drums. Heavy and melodic once again, what’s becoming increasingly clear throughout each track on this album is how the band have progressed as a unit, developing their sound to make sure they continue to evolve and change, continue to hit new levels and continue to reach out to new audiences. This track is one of my personal favourites from the album, largely down to the heavy main sections and the softer breaks which create contrasts throughout the track – quite simply, it’s awesome.
Beyond The Pale returns us to the insanity of the early parts of the album, once again reminding us that this is a heavy ride and we should be thankful we’ve been invited along for it. Picking up the pace to throw us into circle pit territory, this track stands out as a moment crafted for the live scene, the sort of track which is going to secure these guys one hell of a reputation when they’re out gigging the tracks. Title track A Hand In Death’s Design comes up next and demonstrates one main thing, this is not a band to underestimate. Growing in power from the opening, this track has moments of sheer power, syncopated moments demonstrating the bands ability to incorporate complexity into their mix, and moments which will sit you on your ass and simply make you think wow, this is intense. Intricate guitar work, pounding drums, enough bass to flatten a city and a sense of melody which will capture your attention from the off, this is a serious highpoint on the album, showing that Athura aren’t just bringing out a new album, they’re bringing out a new sound which is going to take over the world.
Fading Will almost leads on from the previous track, but once again returns us to the venom fuelled moments from earlier on in the album, crafting a track which is going to get pits moving, people jumping and pansies running for their lives – this is once again some serious stuff. Powerful, heavy, distorted – none of these words do this track justice – it’s quite frankly insane, but oh so good. The theme of all out power and aggression continues into For We Were Many, once again crafting a track which is going to get people moving, venues pumping and air guitars being thrown out all over the place. Heavy and yet melodic and, at times, bordering on the catchy, this is another of my personal favourites from the album – it’s the sort of music you whack on at the end of a bad day and it makes you feel infinitely better about everything – and is another one which I need to see on the live scene.
Closing with Mirrors there’s one last chance to bear witness to just how insane a band can be when they set their minds to it, closing on a serious high and leaving you with no doubt that Athura are on the road towards the big time. The final moments on this album once again demonstrate what happens when a band works, when a band connects with one another and works together as a unit to craft an album, and understand the sound they want to achieve from the album. Closing on a high would suggest there are low moments on the album, but my god when the end comes on this album, it’s a damned good ending.
I remember when I first heard Athura (about a year ago) and I was blown away by their sound, well they’ve just beaten it. The new album that these guys have come up with competes with any of the metal albums I own for production and raw power, it’s quite frankly an album which I will remember for the rest of my life, an album which puts everything in perspective, and an album which has just renewed my faith in the direction of metal – go and get it.
To find out more about Athura, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls.
Athura - End Of An Era
Do you know what I love about this job? It’s that I get to hear new bands, hear new songs and find out about what’s happening in the world of music. Sure, there’s bands out there who are about as popular as a German bean sprout is right now, but today an EP arrived with us which is the other end of the spectrum.
Athura are a 7 piece Metal band from Plymouth who I have a feeling you are going to be hearing more of soon. Their EP, ‘End of An Era’, is quite frankly, one of the best debut EP’s I’ve ever heard from a band.
Opening with ‘No Honour’ you’re slammed in the face with a jumbled up mix of synth, drums and guitar over some serious vocals. This carries on for a few seconds then all of a sudden, the guitar is brought to the front and the most amazing riff takes over, it’s explosive. ‘Boomer’ follows this, another track featuring pounding drums, rolling bass rhythms, some amazingly intricate guitar work and vocals which are easily on par with any main stream band out there. Finishing with some time signatures which would make Petrucci proud, this is one hell of an EP already.
The final two tracks though, ‘Neurath’ and ‘End of An Era’ are the two which really struck me about the album. ‘Neurath’ opens with drums, moves to guitars and before you know it, you’re hearing music played at speeds which are sure to get the circle pits moving live. The speed this band can achieve whilst still remaining clear is testament to their ability. ‘End of An Era’ ends the EP the way it should, leaving the listener wanting some more. Again speedy, this track displays the bands influences from death metal and is guaranteed to have crowds moving when it’s played live. Chucking a guitar solo in there for some good measure, this track is one which I cannot wait to go and see them play.
I’ll confess, when I saw that this was a 7 piece band I had my doubts, only Slipknot have ever really been able to pull that off (and even they were a little dodgy from time to time) but they’ve proved me well and truly wrong. This EP is epic, there is no other word for it. I for one am well and truly converted to this band and look forward to hearing what comes next.
Check this band out because you will not be disappointed. You can find their Facebook page HERE.
Athura are a 7 piece Metal band from Plymouth who I have a feeling you are going to be hearing more of soon. Their EP, ‘End of An Era’, is quite frankly, one of the best debut EP’s I’ve ever heard from a band.
Opening with ‘No Honour’ you’re slammed in the face with a jumbled up mix of synth, drums and guitar over some serious vocals. This carries on for a few seconds then all of a sudden, the guitar is brought to the front and the most amazing riff takes over, it’s explosive. ‘Boomer’ follows this, another track featuring pounding drums, rolling bass rhythms, some amazingly intricate guitar work and vocals which are easily on par with any main stream band out there. Finishing with some time signatures which would make Petrucci proud, this is one hell of an EP already.
The final two tracks though, ‘Neurath’ and ‘End of An Era’ are the two which really struck me about the album. ‘Neurath’ opens with drums, moves to guitars and before you know it, you’re hearing music played at speeds which are sure to get the circle pits moving live. The speed this band can achieve whilst still remaining clear is testament to their ability. ‘End of An Era’ ends the EP the way it should, leaving the listener wanting some more. Again speedy, this track displays the bands influences from death metal and is guaranteed to have crowds moving when it’s played live. Chucking a guitar solo in there for some good measure, this track is one which I cannot wait to go and see them play.
I’ll confess, when I saw that this was a 7 piece band I had my doubts, only Slipknot have ever really been able to pull that off (and even they were a little dodgy from time to time) but they’ve proved me well and truly wrong. This EP is epic, there is no other word for it. I for one am well and truly converted to this band and look forward to hearing what comes next.
Check this band out because you will not be disappointed. You can find their Facebook page HERE.