Æpoch - Hiraeth (2021)

Hailing from Canada, today we have Progressive/Technical Death Metal outfit Æpoch with their latest EP “Hiraeth”. Delivering nearly 20 minutes of high-octane music, this band shows great maturity and originality in their very polished sound. From start to finish, this release will have you furiously headbanging and moshing with your friends.

Opening with “Atonement”, we get that immediate Death worship within the first few minutes as the band transitions into intense melodic riffs and proggy tempo changes. The opener perfectly bleeds into “Amnesia” another piece with ravaging guitars and tight drumming. The growls are deep and firm, allowing the music to sound quite brutal with the addition of extra vocals by Alustrium’s Jerry Martin.

For those looking for a heavy dose of technicality, “Overwrought” creates an intense experience alongside a throbbing bass guitar line, dramatic leads and crafty tempos. We particularly enjoy the moody and catchy melancholy of “The Flesh Totem”, and the playfulness of the closer “Hiraeth”. Both tracks showcase the band firing on all cylinders, showcasing their uncanny songwriting abilities and perfect execution.

As a whole “Hiraeth” is a triumphant release showcasing the raw talent of Æpoch. This band has both the technical skills and creativity to create very unique and engaging songs that while you can hear some influences from bands like Death, Obscura, Hour of Penance, the band clearly imprints them with their own DNA. If you are looking for a good mix of technical acrobatics, crafty tempo changes, and intricate songwriting, this release will keep you entertained for a while.

Label: Self-Released

Release: September 10th, 2021

Genre: Progressive/Technical Death Metal

Country: Canada