Album Review: Lord Agheros – Anhedonia (My Kingdom Music)

Lord Agheros, one of the leading forces in atmospheric & avant-garde black metal, returns with ‘Anhedonia’. A musical journey that all can experience on January 3rd, 2024, via My Kingdom Music.

Unsurprisingly, this is not an easy album to describe and summarise. Not just because of its avant-garde makeup, but because Lord Agheros draws from a wide range of genres and constantly changes what is in focus. From ancient Nordic and shamanic sounds that create haunting atmosphere, to intense flareups of blackened heaviness, all complimented by an esoteric approach to melancholy.

From the moment Lament of the Lost creates a mournful soundscape that is strange, but oddly comforting, this album’s avant-garde aspects are vibrantly displayed. There’s a cinematic approach, but it’s subtle. The colours are softer, and the emotive effect it has blends better with the artistic black metal elements, even if the switches can be jarringly intense because of an innate rawness that Lord Agheros employs. Notable with the latter part of the opener, but also brought vividly to the forefront with Harmony of Hope. Here, the melody is so icy, that the heat of the black metal is so very welcome.

Lord Agheros approach to extreme music is staggering though. The way in which the artist combines melody and metal stuns constantly. and as the album goes on, it only grows in stature. Getting more challenging, but just as exciting, with Eclipse of Hope. Crafting even more ominous atmosphere with Lost Dream Ritual, a track heavy on the ancient Nordic vibes, and one that has undeniable beauty running through it. Then exposing the nerve endings with a misery-infused blast of blackened heaviness called Sorrow’s Shroud, a track that transforms into something spell-binding as it goes on, but ends in devastating fashion.

Misery is rarely this appealing, but the passion and creativity that oozes out of Lord Agheros is undeniable. Even when a track like Soul’s Descent into the Void showcases operatic vocals, symphonic melodies, and burgeoning grandeur. Or when beauty comes in dramatic guitar strumming style via Tears in the Silence and an epic end like Ancient Echoes can feel almost blasé just because of what is elsewhere on the album. It’s still incredible, but so is everything on this album, even if its avant-garde approach isn’t going to be for everyone.

Lord Agheros – Anhedonia Track Listing:

1. Lament of the Lost
2. Harmony of Despair
3. Eclipse of Hope
4. Lost Dreams Ritual
5. Sorrow’s Shroud
6. Soul’s Descent into the Void
7. Tears in the Silence
8. Ancient Echoes

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