Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Amenta, The - Occasus (2004)

The Amenta is not a band you should ever underestimate. They have combined death metal with industrial metal seamlessly, thereby creating a sound heavier than an entire planet. And the most deathly part of their sound occurs in their perfect debut Occasus!

I've only just start listening to this band beyond their Flesh is Heir album over a month ago, so I thought it was time to review albums from the deathly complex world of The Amenta. I'm talking about industrial blackened death metal with some ambient noise. The sound ranges from technical to atmospheric. You can hear inhuman devastation coming from the vocals, blast-beats, synths, and riffs, all more destructive than most other bands could do.

Kicking off hard is "Erebus", blasting through otherworldly extremeness. "Mictlan" originally came from an EP released a couple years prior. Then we get another highlight from "Zero", going straight into more heaviness in no time flat.

Then we have industrial ambience in the interlude "Selenium". One of the greater highlights "Nihil" actually sounds melodic without too much dissonance. "Geilt" proves that the band can blend extreme metal with electronics, similar to The Browning doing that a decade later, though obviously much heavier.

"Sekem" has more of that mysterious deathly aura. The title track is another interlude that will make you want more of the heaviness that will return shortly. Blasting things apart again is "Ennea", with some of the most f***ing extreme complexity you'll ever find. The finale "Sangre" is something that the inexperienced would take a long time to fully grasp. Warp-speed drums and vocals blast through for something epic and extreme. Then after some ambient noise, the last couple minutes of metal strike once more.

The Amenta's debut is so underrated and needs more attention. It should really catch on for the extreme metal realms to hear. Occasus has a lot of brutality striking, and it should be hailed for all eternity!

Favorites: "Erebus", "Zero", "Nihil", "Ennea", "Sangre"