Aevangelist - Writhes in the Murk (2014)^{Release ID: 11645}

The previous outing from Aevangelist was a difficult affair for me. I understood the rationale behind the direction of the record and the stylistic chops and changes that they tried to mix into one big dark, ugly and chaotic pie. Unfortunately, "Omen Ex Simulacra" lost me. Instead of being enveloped by it's swarming atmospheres and looming darkness I found myself sitting back and looking consistently rather puzzled. Part of the attraction of bands like Aevangelist are their absolute inaccessibility, but "Omen.." was a journey too far for these ears and although I have revisited just to make sure I am not being a knob I still don't remember much about it.

"Writhes In Murk" uses atmosphere much better than the previous effort. There is no sitting around waiting for the threat of squally, chaotic and pounding DM as a synth or drone teases you with the potential, in the main the music is more in your face yet has the edge of menace as opposed to a constant reminder. Opening track "Hosanna" gets straight in your face, wraps cold hands of impenetrable darkness around your head and snogs you with a thick, black and slimy tongue thrown down your throat for good measure. This is the tone for the rest of this particular romance as track after track engulfs you, taking you along on every blast of power violence, wrapping your body in dark ambience, tearing at your flesh with sharp talons of black noise and smothering you with the records industrial, black DM.

By the time you get to the title (and final) track you are genuinely disorientated. Such is the pace and complexity of what is contained in these 8 tracks you will lose a whole hour (and then some) and will simply want to dive right back in and go at it all over again.