If I recall correctly, the band's mastermind Naas Alcameth has stated in an interview that Akhlys is a representation of his nightmares and sleep paralys experiences. The lady in the cover artwork is his sleep paralysis demon. That would really explain the horror, creepy, haunting and ominous atmosphere that all the songs dwell in, since sleep paralysis can really be a terrifying thing to be in.
@allanprospero193127 күн бұрын
Melinoe is an ancient greek "demon" entity. Great artwork, goes hand in hand with the atmosphere in the songs.
@TheLivirus2 жыл бұрын
More likely a reference to Achlys (Ἀχλύς), the mist shed upon mortal eyes in death (Homer) and the personification of sorrow (Shield of Heracles): _"Beside them stood Ἀχλὺς, gloomy and dread, pallid, parched, cowering in hunger, thick-kneed; long claws were under her hands. From her nostrils flowed mucus, from her cheeks blood was dripping down onto the ground. She stood there, grinning dreadfully, and much dust, wet with tears, lay upon her shoulders."_
@cpfantastic55762 жыл бұрын
It's one of the best albums of 2020. Terrifying album!
@2wings1bird902 жыл бұрын
Do you prefer it over The Dreaming I though, is the question!
@Tuleinaarii8 ай бұрын
Yes. Better than The Dreaming I.@@2wings1bird90
@Desanusor3 ай бұрын
@@2wings1bird90yep haha
@tystimyr2 жыл бұрын
I love Akhlys so much, I know no other who can create such a thick creeping, hateful atmosphere like them!
@Nekrist2182 жыл бұрын
Funeral Mist.
@CountYulith2 жыл бұрын
That pause in the song that was pretty long before it exploded into everything scared the crap out of me the first time I listened to this album in total darkness by myself. I definitely did not see that coming and the timing was just so strange that most people would never guess it was coming upon first listen.
@codexnecro2 жыл бұрын
Awesome. I've heard this album so many times since it came out. I'm happy you're reacting to it. Edit: 43:18 The guy who mixed the album is Dave Otero, he also mixed Archspire. He's pretty good. I also have the stems for the first track in this album. The guitars/bass/vocals/synths were recorded by the band, except for the drums, they were recorded in his studio. The di's for the guitars/bass are kinda rough, I'm impressed how good of a mix he managed to get tbh.
@jonathanhenderson94222 жыл бұрын
Never heard of them, but this was REALLY awesome. Immediately went out and bought their discography (just two albums) before the track even finished. Reminds me a lot of Deathspell Omega, one of my favorite bands out there right now. Love this kinda proggy, avant-garde BM, and the great production really helps music that's this dense. Really cool to hear how BM has basically evolved from metal's version of punk to stuff like this that's quasi-proggy/psychedelic and nightmarish.
@patrickbertlein4626 Жыл бұрын
Prog and Kraut rock were ALWAYS huge influences on black metal, since the very beginning.
@intheshadowofathousandbean5632 жыл бұрын
Naas Alcameth - the leader of this project, is well known among the underground for some of the best black metal projects of the last decade, Nightbringer (his main band), Aoratos and Bestia Arcana all share similar traits and definitely stand in the front when it comes to high quality black metal that still doesn't leave the realm of harshness and dark atmosphere. He is a genius when it comes to composing and songwriting and the music he creates are soundtracks for themes he covers. Bestia Arcana - "Holókauston" being maybe the best example of it, as it is basically a soundtrack to the Book of Revelation, the sound this album creates is almost theatrical, in a most apocalyptic and terrifying way that is. I believe its his best work to date and the production on that album is unbelievable, it's somehow one of the most massive and in-your-face production I've ever heard yet everything is clean and audible despite the layers upon layers of sound building up to orgasmic soundscapes. The vocals are pretty unusual for black metal as well, as they're rather low, and sound more like a deep growly narration/wrathful shouting that has a massive impact on the atmosphere! If you'd be interested I suggest listening/reacting to Bestia Arcana - Hellmouth, I believe it would be a *perfect* pick for this weeks theme but maybe next time! Take care!
@CriticalReactions2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for all of this great info about this person. It's nice to know that he sticks with that clean dirtiness for all of his projects too. I'll def have to check out more of his works.
@whodeytko Жыл бұрын
@@CriticalReactions you should definitely review the song “Iniquity” by the above mentioned Bestia Arcana. You think this vocal performance was terrifying? The above track is even crazier. It’s like a mad deranged orator.
@CriticalReactions Жыл бұрын
@@whodeytko Yeah see....that isn't appealing to me 😅 If it ended up on the channel then I'd of course do it but I'm not a big fan of terrifying songs or performances.
@dimmufrost6663 ай бұрын
Akhlys is the Greek goddess of nightmares, poisons and eternal night
@timwatchesmovies2 жыл бұрын
Super pumped to see this reaction, love this band so much, this really nails the energy plus melody combo I love in metal.
@ckokomo8082 жыл бұрын
This album blew me away in 2020. I really enjoyed the entire atmosphere. Very haunting and nightmarish- after looking up Melinoë, made perfect sense! I think this might be the closest to “hifi” this week. I remember listening to it and being amazed at how big the sound was without being muddled up. Almost every instrument can be discerned. I really love how the guitars carry the melody. Most are pretty catchy and find myself whistling them during the day. One thing that really stood out to me was the spaciousness in the mix. There’s obviously a huge wall of sound which is impressive, but the space 1) creates a contrast to the constant attack and 2) deepens the ominous feeling- kinda like the silence in a horror movie. I love the melody by the guitars. It cuts through the mix. They’re also pretty catchy (6:00 and around 8:20 are some of my favorite moments in the album). I think this was a perfect last song for the week. This album set the bar for BM for me- Crushing, haunting, dark, melodic, grand, atmospheric, intensity …even though I would’ve preferred my pick ;) oh well, I’ll request it during another week! What’re your thoughts at the end of this week??
@CriticalReactions2 жыл бұрын
You're right about this being a great way to wrap up the week. If this had been first then I think the other 4 would have disappointed me, production wise. I don't know that I would have had the same revelations throughout the week. As for my thoughts on the week, I'm still not sure where I stand. I certainly have more of an understanding of BM now. And I've heard some BM that might be a bridge album for me. But I think BM might just be one of those genres that isn't for me. I've heard a lot of different kinds of BM now and they go all across the listenability scale for me, but none have come close to something I'd actively seek out to listen to yet. Maybe there is a mythical BM album out there for me 😅But I'm OK with simply understanding and appreciating the nuance of it at a distance right now.
@ckokomo8082 жыл бұрын
@@CriticalReactions awesome! Definitely understandable! I’m glad you did this week, as the community was very engaged. The discussion was great and I learned a ton as well. I’m excited for next week since it’s a genre I know little about. Thanks!
@2wings1bird902 жыл бұрын
@@CriticalReactions I know you probably have a long list and many recommendations ahead, but I would greatly encourage you to give this song a chance! I can't say I've heard you talk of playing drums like guitar, but it's hands-down the most exploratory modern drumming I've heard, perhaps in metal in general. I'm sure you would find it highly interesting, at the very least. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIS6hYmFrZmbgJY
@2wings1bird902 жыл бұрын
Oh boy, your people are recommending some of the real deal stuff! You got a real lesson in _dark_ with this one! Naas profusely regurgitates profoundly dark constructions of despair. A dreary sonic indulgence for those select moments.
@juhosuomi25512 жыл бұрын
This was definitely one of the best albums of 2020. They captured the theme of album (nightmares, dark dream experiences, sleep paralysis) so well in their music and it just feels song by song a descending spiral deeper into the nightmare realm which you can't escape. Such a cool album.
@Nekrist2182 жыл бұрын
Really good analysis! Not over-exaggerated or anything like that. 😄
@warriorsponnie84672 жыл бұрын
Absolutely masterpiece of an album. The production is by done Dave Otero, aslo the producer on the recent Archespire and Inferi albums. Crazy clear and balanced mix
@ambassadortourettes7532 жыл бұрын
These guys are my Ulcerate of Black Metal 👌 I bang this stuff in my veins it is that flipping good ☝️Such an epic album
@patrickbertlein4626 Жыл бұрын
Dude check out the new Inanna!
@eulerianpath63552 жыл бұрын
Fuck yeah gotta do some Nightbringer now
@tropiq2 жыл бұрын
one of the two newest black metal projects i'm into along with Esoctrilihum, both 'enrich' the black metal formula with something fresh, in the case of Akhlys for me it was the underlying synth that reminded me a lot of some dark-electro bands i used to listen to years ago (god module, psyclon nine) so it was definitely a new experience, also the combination and execution results in a uniquely oppressive atmosphere as far as black metal vocals go usually its a variation on this higher pitched shriek but there are outliers most notably attila csihar currently of mayhem and tom g fisher from celtic frost and triptykon
@BykeMurns2 жыл бұрын
I would have suggested Ephialtes as a tune but excited to scope this video either way. Album is pretty killer.
@BykeMurns2 жыл бұрын
Oh man, that grimace when the double kicks come in. Perfection haha.
@CureOptimismForHumanity5 ай бұрын
2:49 had the same reaction when I first heard that part of the song.
@HideousConformity2 жыл бұрын
Love Naas Alcameth's projects. Another band that seems to be going for creepy and nightmarish vibes is Terra Tenebrosa. Definitely recommend them. You also mentioned dissonance, which got me thinking of Portal. I was going to recommend them too but then you mentioned dissonance again as I was typing this and apparently that's not your thing 😁
@reaper_guardian_8214 Жыл бұрын
He doesnt want to hear this Song twice, meanwhile me listening to it 6 Times in a row (and I cant Listen to songs more than 2 times)
@riffinpeace66672 жыл бұрын
this album is a beast i love it!
@NeroBorgata262 жыл бұрын
What a beautiful band…
@呼吸-e9b2 жыл бұрын
Fascinating band
@RÅNÇIÐ2 жыл бұрын
Oh yes
@TheBFN Жыл бұрын
You mentioned tension.. The first time i listened to this cd it made me feel uncomfortable as a listener... And i think its becsuse of the tension the music has.. And i loved it
@brandtcarroll93162 жыл бұрын
Dude if you like the strange horror feelings like this check out the album called The Reverses by Terra Tenebrosa.
@Jihadius2 жыл бұрын
archspire and akhlys had the same engineer. hands down to dave otero sleep well bryan
@CriticalReactions2 жыл бұрын
That dude deserves some recognition. He's got a lot of stuff coming at him and he finds a way to make it palatable every. single. time.
@brandtcarroll93162 жыл бұрын
Well then... Props to that dude for making such thick yet precise mixes. They're killer.