Album Review: Aklash – Reincarnation (Self Released)

Brit progressive black metallers, Aklash will release their engulfing new album, ‘Reincarnation’ on June 20th, 2024.

There’s a point early on in the opening title track where Aklash’s inferno of blackened metal transforms into something more traditionally heavy metal. Now, how you react to this big tone shift will dictate a lot of your feelings for this album overall. If your reaction is one of horror, then you’re going to find a lot of this album a challenging listen. However, if your reaction is to grin with glee, then you’re in for a good time. For all their black metal intensity, which is still very much the focal point of the record, Aklash push some significant boundaries here.

Following a very strong start (the melodic outro is awesome too), Aklash continue to delight with their unique melding of genres with Communion with Ghosts and Babylon. The former having a folkish epic twist, the vocals and riffs soaring impressively, whereas the latter is a much more frenzied affair. Again though, there’s a folky twist to the formula that gives this a fresh feel. Even though the blazing speed makes it one of the more intense tracks.

Two extremely powerful efforts that showcase the forward-thinking capabilities of Aklash to the extreme. They’re quite a few steps ahead of their contemporaries already with music like this.

A short and melodic intermission with Sapphires and Garlic then leads to an explosion of thick blackened heaviness with Cossack. The guitars are more melodic, but the drum and vocal combination is fiery as f**k. This continues until the last few minutes when the tone shifts into an expansive folk-heavy sound and, thanks in part to the vocals, it starts to resemble a call to arms. Demanding you punch the air, slap your chest, stomp your feet, and bang your head.

Although that certainly applies to the following Kaval too, Aklash’s harmonised vocals sounding immense and helping turn this into a bit of an anthem. A heavy anthem, but an anthem none the less. This is some very clever song writing and the cherry on top is the guitar solo.

Then, to cap off a very memorable listening experience, there’s the short penultimate track, Caravanserai. A calming piece of folk-infused melody and atmosphere. Before the height of Aklash’s experimental powers is reached with the mind-boggling finale of My Will Made Manifest. The intro alone is the weirdest thing they’ve done on the album, and it immediately ensures most will be all in on the track already.

As it goes on, Aklash push the blackness to the forefront in stages, switching tempos with ease, blending progressive elements expertly, and sounding more inspired than ever. It’s not just the most fascinating track on the album, it’s also the most challenging. All the proof anyone could ever need regarding the boundaries that Aklash are able to push so emphatically.

Aklash – Reincarnation Track Listing:

1. Reincarnation
2. Communion with Ghosts
3. Babylon
4. Sapphires and Garlic
5. Cossack
6. Kaval
7. Caravanserai
8. My Will Made Manifest

Links

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