Antimateria – Valo aikojen takaa (2016)

Hailing from Finland, today we have Atmospheric Black Metal one-man battalion Antimateria and their debut full-length “Valo aikojen taka”. With all tracks in Finish and a knack for heavy rudimentary atmospheric elements, this release will crawl under your skin thanks to the subtle rawness of the band’s sound.

Immediately opening with an oppressive shriek paired with raw guitars and dreamy atmospherics, “Sieltä mistä valokaan ei milloinkaan karaka” instantly sets a very eerie mood. The atmospheric elements have a certain resemblance to Perivuan flutes, giving this track a fresh and original angle. Delivering raw riffs which sound a bit muffled (probably by the production quality), tracks like “Tieni kohti lopullista tuhoa” and “Roihuten läpi yötaivaan” have a certain old-school Pagan Metal vibe from the days of Falkenbach, but without the fluffiness.

Perfect for headbanging, the simple drums and riffs behind “Kun aukeaa mysteerit kuoleman” and “Kadoten merien hautaan” make these tracks quite engaging while giving them a certain old Satyricon vibe. Closing with the thunderous album title-track, this release comes full circle with its disharming atmospheric elements and naïve rawness that makes it standout for the rest. With a certain resemblance to bands like Enid, Antimateria has managed to deliver one of the most atmospheric and interesting debut releases of 2016.

Label: Purity Through Fire Records

Release: September 1st, 2016

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal

Country: Finland