Out of nowhere, a new black metal force to be reckoned with has risen out of the North-Eastern United States. Anicon recently unleashed their self-titled four song EP upon the world, self-released and beautifully mastered by jack-of-all-trades and sure insomniac Colin Marston. Very little is known about this new powerhouse, other than they share a member with underground death crusts Trenchgrinder, and the fact that they fucking rule.
Awash in a thick wall of dirgey guitars giving ample breathing room to a crackling, crunchy bass, Anicon play a style of USBM that doesn’t focus on over-the-top speed or chaotic distorted madness. They are masters of the auditory journey, churning out chunks of sound that feel like a living, breathing mass. Like borough-mates Mutilation Rites, they bring a slight thrashened perspective to their grim European sound complete with tempo-changes and serpentine twists. It’s black metal played intelligently; it doesn’t stick to a formula and leaves the listener guessing how many tricks the band has up their charred and rotted sleeves.
Full review after the jump!
Their mid-paced declarations are served up just right; offering dynamic, atypical beats and fills that pound over melodies and riffs that the band contorts over the course of a song. Not being afraid of the guitar solo — black metal’s mortal enemy — they showcase them in a refined and understated way by perfectly filling in the dusty cracks left open by the nonstop tremolo attack that far too many bands rely on as a force by itself.
“Lash and Ladder,” the last track of the EP, is a testament to the group’s vibrant, beautiful and ultimately violent cacophony. The drums here are so crushing it almost hurts, battering your senses away as the riff masters showcase their craft. After the devastating bridge, the song builds upon its bleak foundation with a simple, repetitive melody that burns itself into the inside of your skull before destroying itself by fading out into obscurity.
This a no-nonsense, masterfully created sonic assault. If this band doesn’t continue to hone their craft and give more blackened gifts to the world, it would be a much darker place indeed. Pick up the album at their Bandcamp and follow the mysterious group on Facebook.
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