Album Review: Izthmi – The Arrow Of Our Ways (Within The Mind Records)
Atmospheric Metal band Izthmi will release their full-length debut album The Arrows of Our Ways on February 14th 2020 via Within the Mind Records.
Izthmi’s style is birthed from a wide variety of influences, such as progressive Black Metal, Doom, and Noise/Ambient. Despite being driven by a strong melodic character, Izthmi’s sound often explores a darker and more disheartening approach to their style of playing. The Arrows of our Ways is a concept album focused on the journey of the self and finding solace through love in a time of extreme oppression and ecological detriment.
The Chasm calls, the hail of noise slowing transforming into something with melody as everything begins to calm. The beauty within begins to take shape and grow, a precursor to the wonderment that follows on To Traipse Alone.
Delectably evil sounding, the atmospheric blackness of this track shines through brightly. Showcasing rhythm that is downright sickening in its savagery at times against wonderfully complex riffing and depth-filled melody.
Following that, This Listless World burns even hotter and even brighter, daring to go even darker and more extreme. Before Interlude softens the album up with an eerie, yet sweet tones.
Knowing exactly how to keep things interesting and intriguing, Useless is the song of Man, From Throats Calloused by Name isn’t just an exceptional title. No, it has some of the meatiest riffing and deepest vocal growls of the record.
Enough to make the gut tighten and the eyes water, something that A Shout that bursts through the Silence of Unmeaning also causes briefly. Although brief snippets of melody marks this one out as something quite different, while still being intensely heavy. Utterly brilliant.
The end is in sight, (The Angels are Lost) serving as an intro to the title track which closes the album out.
What a finish it is too. A humongous effort rooted in the blackest of black metal while continuing to deliver on the wonderful atmospheres that have made this album such a stunning listen.
Izthmi – The Arrows of Our Ways Full Track Listing:
1. Chasm
2. To Traipse Alone
3. This Listless World
4. Interlude
5. Useless is the song of Man, From Throats Calloused by Name
6. A Shout that bursts through the Silence of Unmeaning
7. (The Angels Are Lost)
8. The Arrows of Our Ways
Links
Bandcamp | Facebook | Within the Mind Records
Izthmi - The Arrow Of Our Ways (Within The Mind Records)
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The Final Score - 9/10
9/10