Aenaon – Extance (2014)

Delivering their most high-octane release to date, Aenaon returns with the punishing “Extance”. Hailing from Greece, this band has managed to push the boundaries of Black Metal with their previous efforts and this one is no different. Mixing Avant-garde/Jazzy elements into a well-structured Progressive Black Metal core, this release sees the band further refining their craft into near perfection through the 11 songs presented here.

The band’s incisive riffing and commanding vocals are immediately felt with the intro “The First Art” blending into “Deathtrip Chronicle”. Excelling in creating killer guitar melodies, Aenaon has managed to further refine their sound since “Cendres et Sang”. The tempo changes and vocal arrangements are other factors that make the band’s music instantly be recognized. The Avant-garde weirdness we love form the band starts to shine with the upbeat “Grau Diva” and its intricate arrangements.

Perfectly balancing their aggressive BM side with their experimental elements, the band never reduces its intensity and creativity with tracks like “A Treatise on the Madness of God”, “Der Mude tod”, and “Closer to Scaffold”. All these songs remind us of a mixture of Borknagar and Arcturus, but with the unique signature of Aenaon all over them. Our favorite element in the band’s previous releases is the jazzy atmospheric elements they use, a clear example of this is on the eerie “Land of no Water”.

Our favorite track in this release is the Lounge/Improvisational Jazz piece “Funeral Blues” that features Tanya Leontiou (Universe217) on vocals that sound like Agnete M. Kirkevaag of Madder Mortem fame. Closing with the cinematic “Palindrome” the band really sets the bar quite high in the last two tracks of this release with excellent experimental passages mixed into lush atmospheric elements and cold-blooded BM onslaughts.

“Extance” marks the evolution of Aenaon into a force to be reckoned with. The band never strays away from their harsh Black Metal elements, finding new ways of incorporating progressive and trippy elements in every song. If the band keeps evolving like this, other acts should watch out. If you are looking to spend your Xmas money on something, make sure it is this awesome release the one you purchase.

Label: Code666 Records

Release: January 20th, 2013

Genre: Avant-garde / Progressive Black Metal

Country: Greece