From Melbourne, Australia, AK-11 are a black metal trio active since 2011. So far they have released a demo, Legendary, Demonic & Invincible in 2011, and this independent full-length. After a tour in Europe in 2014, they were signed by Modern Invasion Music.
Once upon a Time in Europa sounds much inspired to the big Swedish classics like Marduk, Dark Funeral, Setherial. In other words AK-11 stake much on very fast tempos in blast beat, rather than on creating an obscure, dark atmosphere, which is typical of the Norwegian tradition; listen to a song like “Legendary, Demonic & Invincible” and see. The songs are however all very well made and performed, and some of them, like “The Cleansing Stream”, can be very enthralling. But sometimes AK-11 get lost in these superfast, and sometimes even a little twisted, melodies in tremolo, and the songs inevitably lose strength; in short, in this case what remains is a lot of bpm, and nothing more. In “Sniper Glory” and “Shest' Shest' Shest', I Katyusha” this is particularly evident; but there are also examples of very good, effective riffs, as in “The Cleansing Stream” and “Europe (A Future)”. My favorite song is “Europa (Once upon a Time)” because it does not follow the above mentioned pattern; the good riffing and the mid-tempo backed by a continuous carpet of double case in the first half of the song sound like a variation on the theme; but even here the fast blast beats are back in the second half.
Once upon a Time in Europa is a good test in general; nothing transcendental of course: the album lacks originality, and sometimes it is even dull. But it is a good listen, especially for those who love moshing while listening to black metal.
Notes:
Self-released on May 28 2014.
Tracklist:
1. Europa (Krov')
2. Vechnyi ogon'
3. The Cleansing Stream
4. Slava
5. Legendary, Demonic & Invincible
6. Sniper Glory
7. Europa (Once upon a Time)
8. Shest' Shest' Shest', I Katyusha
9. Pasledniy pulya: Dla vas
10. Europa (A Future)
Personnel:
Valak: Vocals, Guitars, Bass
Morturus: Drums
Davdarreth: Guitars
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
Once upon a Time in Europa sounds much inspired to the big Swedish classics like Marduk, Dark Funeral, Setherial. In other words AK-11 stake much on very fast tempos in blast beat, rather than on creating an obscure, dark atmosphere, which is typical of the Norwegian tradition; listen to a song like “Legendary, Demonic & Invincible” and see. The songs are however all very well made and performed, and some of them, like “The Cleansing Stream”, can be very enthralling. But sometimes AK-11 get lost in these superfast, and sometimes even a little twisted, melodies in tremolo, and the songs inevitably lose strength; in short, in this case what remains is a lot of bpm, and nothing more. In “Sniper Glory” and “Shest' Shest' Shest', I Katyusha” this is particularly evident; but there are also examples of very good, effective riffs, as in “The Cleansing Stream” and “Europe (A Future)”. My favorite song is “Europa (Once upon a Time)” because it does not follow the above mentioned pattern; the good riffing and the mid-tempo backed by a continuous carpet of double case in the first half of the song sound like a variation on the theme; but even here the fast blast beats are back in the second half.
Once upon a Time in Europa is a good test in general; nothing transcendental of course: the album lacks originality, and sometimes it is even dull. But it is a good listen, especially for those who love moshing while listening to black metal.
Notes:
Self-released on May 28 2014.
Tracklist:
1. Europa (Krov')
2. Vechnyi ogon'
3. The Cleansing Stream
4. Slava
5. Legendary, Demonic & Invincible
6. Sniper Glory
7. Europa (Once upon a Time)
8. Shest' Shest' Shest', I Katyusha
9. Pasledniy pulya: Dla vas
10. Europa (A Future)
Personnel:
Valak: Vocals, Guitars, Bass
Morturus: Drums
Davdarreth: Guitars
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com