Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Amenta, The - Revelator (2021)

For 8 years, The Amenta was in the silent void after a perfect trilogy of albums that started with their debut Occasus. Those albums showed how futuristic extremeness can be with such a heavy timeless sound. Revelator marks the band's comeback with more of the earlier brutal violence while exploring something dark and more dreadful. This is the darkened future of industrial death metal!

Aside from the usual blasts of technicality of the band's industrial blackened death metal sound, there's a bit of atmospheric doom in the mix. The destruction isn't just straight-on brutal anymore, but also having interesting variety in darker depths.

Opening track "An Epoch Ellipsis" crashes through like a less symphonic Septicflesh with rapid drumming machinery to slay anything in its way. "Sere Money" is more rock-ish than anything the band has done, as the vocals of Cain Cressall range from clean to harsh, and both sides alternate between each other like an all-out war. "Silent Twin" is more chilling with acoustic ambience and Cressall's lurking vocals.

"Psoriastasis" is a punishing blaster with a relentless breakdown halfway through. "Twined Towers" is the band's longest song at 8 minutes and might remind some of a more brutal take on Ministry's mid-90s material. "Parasight Lost" shows the band's industrial side more in the vocals and guitars, like Godflesh gone early 90s Paradise Lost.

"Wonderlost" is a little repetitive but still quite a fascinating interlude. "Overpast" has more relentless drumming turbulence that keeps the band at the right direction. Another absolutely intense standout! Finally, "Parse Over" is one of the best songs ever of industrial death metal! There's even some more of the ambient doom throughout to add to the bleakness. That's the kind of album ending I need here!

The Amenta's killer evolution is displayed quite well, though it doesn't reach the perfect heights of their initial trilogy. I recommend Revelator for anyone wanting a darker follow-up to the Flesh is Heir album. More industrial brutality awaits!

Favorites: "An Epoch Ellipsis", "Psoriastasis", "Parasight Lost", "Overpast", "Parse Over"