Review by UnhinderedbyTalent for Akhlys - Melinoë (2020)
The last Akhlys release blew my fucking mind. It was intense to the point of being overbearing. Between the expansive song writing and layered atmospherics, the whole experience was a cloying and totally memorable one. As with most of Naas Alcameth's output, this project follows a familiar level of infrequency of output with a whole five years having passed since the project's sophomore release. The more recent venture he had undertaken with Aoratos last year made me aware of the continued quality of his work under whatever band name he was working under and so my hopes were high for Melinoë.
Using Evan Knight (or Eoghan as he is known here) for the drums following the success of collaborating on Aoratos, Naas continues to forge ahead with making Akhlys an exciting and terrifying project in equal measure. The blue print for this album differs only very minutely from The Dreaming I, instead opting to build on the "wall of noise" theme so prevalent on that record and make things just a tad more coherent and accessible in places on this one. That's not to say this record lets up on the momentum created by its predecessor in anyway, if anything it is a far more challenging record. But, I do find it a lot more sticky than previous output and this was obvious with the preview tracks - which after hearing just two of them I had the vinyl on pre-order.
Melinoë is a suffocating listen. Its main driving force the oppressive nature it imposes on you as a listener, whether through all out battery or utilising menacing atmospherics that would sit just as well on the soundtrack to most horror films, you can't help but fear the sounds it produces. The experience leaves you feeling like being lost at sea and having to swim for some distant shore and the tumult of the tide just endlessly pulls you down to the darkest depths of the blackest waters. Even when you manage to get your head above water again it is not long before you are pulled back under.
The melodies deployed are acutely distressing, swarming and mining at your very core as they circle you like taunting demons. These harrowing moments are what save you from getting totally lost at times, they are well-timed and the album deploys more atmospheric tracks and passages to great effect to give the overall feel of a well-paced record.
The only challenge I have is with the production on the first couple of tracks. It feels a bit stifling upon the first couple of listens and the impact of the music is blunted somewhat as a result. I don't recall this issue on the stream so appears to be a new challenge with the vinyl pressing I have. The fact that it is an album that is supposed to have that element of mystery and ethereal threat is what makes this almost passable (it certainly doesn't ruin the record at least). If you enjoyed The Dreaming I though you'll love this.