Auroch
Another band we were recently put on to from Canada is Auroch, an extreme metal unit from Vancouver who are out to destroy the world with their own take on the genre. Formed in 2008, this is a band who focus their sound firmly on the Canadian extreme metal traditions they grew up with, showcasing their style with their album, From Forgotten Worlds, and stating that the album is ‘raw, relentless and tapping into a musical current of the wrath of Lovecraft’s Ancient Ones’ – which sounds cool to me! As such, play was pushed, volume was cranked, and the album began…
As From Forgotten Worlds gets things going, one thing is clear – this is going to be a heavy assed ride. Pounding drum lines work with intricate guitars and roaring vocals, showing that extreme metal is still being produced in a manner that’s going to kill your cat, haunt your mind and leave you powerless to do anything about it. Fast, aggressive and heavy as anything I’ve come across ever, the track twists and turns throughout, offering up roaring vocals which lead to soaring lead guitar lines, rolling drums which lead to blasting fast sections, and enough distortion to blow your speakers from the off. It’s no surprise then that as Fleshless Ascension (Paths Of Dawn) gets going, the theme of an aggressive onslaught continues and once again, the power of all out metal returns to greet us. Dark and distorted from the word go, there’s a raw edge to things here which gives the track a live feel, almost letting you know what the band would sound like if you saw them live and showing how little studio production is needed for an act like this.
Slaves To A Flame Undying marks a change in the opening moments of the track, showing off a more haunting side to the band as the synth effects get things in motion – but not for long. Soon returning us to the all out aural assault, normal service is resumed and we’re soon thrust straight back into that death metal like melee of hammering guitar work and rolling drumlines. Raw guttural vocals seem to echo around the mix, keeping the track alive and once again giving us a sense of what we should expect if we were to go out and see these guys live. Dregs Of Sanity, Talisman For Total Temporal Collapse and Terra Akeldama all manage to continue this approach, each track sounding almost heavier than the one before and really hammering home the message that Canada is the new centre for Scandinavian style black, death, and all out heavy metal!
Bloodborne Conspiracy follows on and somehow manages to raise the bar for the band, offering up a serious high point on the album and producing a track which personally, I class as one of my favourites. Heavy and to the point from start to finish, this is a no holds barred track, refusing to use studio production to soften the sound and instead producing a track which is painfully raw, in an incredible way. The opening moments don’t give a lot away, but as the track comes into being fully we’re tossed into an all out pit of devastation the sort of thing which is going to separate the men from the boys, and the sort of thing which is going to scare the crap out of anyone that’s not ready for it. In your face and full on, this track paves the way towards the final moments of the album, but shows that there’s still a hell of a lot left in the tank with these guys. Tundra Moon unfortunately signals the end of the journey on this album, but what an ending to the record. As you’d expect it’s a heavy close (well….if all of a sudden something soft were to pop up it would be a shock to the system I guess), and one which matches the over all theme of the record. Hammering drums, roving guitar lines and heavy beyond comparison, it’s almost like the band saved some of the heaviest moments of the record for last, and close on a track which will leave you wondering what the hell just happened, but knowing that it was cool whatever it was.
I never had any idea that this level of extreme metal was being produced in Canada, but Auroch have just shown my what’s on offer over there – and it sounds damned good. There’s bound to be those that say this is too heavy, but to them I would say shut up and listen. When a band understand their music and know what they’re trying to achieve, the result can often be spectacular. Whilst I don’t think is the best we’re going to hear from these guys, I think it’s a damned good album, and an awesome starting point for them to move forwards. Whatever comes next, I think it’s going to be pretty damned awesome to check out.
To find out more about Auroch, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls.
As From Forgotten Worlds gets things going, one thing is clear – this is going to be a heavy assed ride. Pounding drum lines work with intricate guitars and roaring vocals, showing that extreme metal is still being produced in a manner that’s going to kill your cat, haunt your mind and leave you powerless to do anything about it. Fast, aggressive and heavy as anything I’ve come across ever, the track twists and turns throughout, offering up roaring vocals which lead to soaring lead guitar lines, rolling drums which lead to blasting fast sections, and enough distortion to blow your speakers from the off. It’s no surprise then that as Fleshless Ascension (Paths Of Dawn) gets going, the theme of an aggressive onslaught continues and once again, the power of all out metal returns to greet us. Dark and distorted from the word go, there’s a raw edge to things here which gives the track a live feel, almost letting you know what the band would sound like if you saw them live and showing how little studio production is needed for an act like this.
Slaves To A Flame Undying marks a change in the opening moments of the track, showing off a more haunting side to the band as the synth effects get things in motion – but not for long. Soon returning us to the all out aural assault, normal service is resumed and we’re soon thrust straight back into that death metal like melee of hammering guitar work and rolling drumlines. Raw guttural vocals seem to echo around the mix, keeping the track alive and once again giving us a sense of what we should expect if we were to go out and see these guys live. Dregs Of Sanity, Talisman For Total Temporal Collapse and Terra Akeldama all manage to continue this approach, each track sounding almost heavier than the one before and really hammering home the message that Canada is the new centre for Scandinavian style black, death, and all out heavy metal!
Bloodborne Conspiracy follows on and somehow manages to raise the bar for the band, offering up a serious high point on the album and producing a track which personally, I class as one of my favourites. Heavy and to the point from start to finish, this is a no holds barred track, refusing to use studio production to soften the sound and instead producing a track which is painfully raw, in an incredible way. The opening moments don’t give a lot away, but as the track comes into being fully we’re tossed into an all out pit of devastation the sort of thing which is going to separate the men from the boys, and the sort of thing which is going to scare the crap out of anyone that’s not ready for it. In your face and full on, this track paves the way towards the final moments of the album, but shows that there’s still a hell of a lot left in the tank with these guys. Tundra Moon unfortunately signals the end of the journey on this album, but what an ending to the record. As you’d expect it’s a heavy close (well….if all of a sudden something soft were to pop up it would be a shock to the system I guess), and one which matches the over all theme of the record. Hammering drums, roving guitar lines and heavy beyond comparison, it’s almost like the band saved some of the heaviest moments of the record for last, and close on a track which will leave you wondering what the hell just happened, but knowing that it was cool whatever it was.
I never had any idea that this level of extreme metal was being produced in Canada, but Auroch have just shown my what’s on offer over there – and it sounds damned good. There’s bound to be those that say this is too heavy, but to them I would say shut up and listen. When a band understand their music and know what they’re trying to achieve, the result can often be spectacular. Whilst I don’t think is the best we’re going to hear from these guys, I think it’s a damned good album, and an awesome starting point for them to move forwards. Whatever comes next, I think it’s going to be pretty damned awesome to check out.
To find out more about Auroch, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls.