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#reaperdawn

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Angry Metal Guy<p><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/holdeneyes-top-tenish-of-2024/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Holdeneye’s Top Ten(ish) of 2024</a></p><p><i>By Holdeneye</i></p><p></p> <p>This was a strange year for old <span><strong>Holdeneye</strong></span>, characterized by relative outer peace and significant inner turmoil. Peruse my last few lists, and you’ll see that I’ve been on a mental health journey for some time now, and this year has honestly been the toughest nut for me to crack. I’ve spent the last few years changing my external circumstances to set me up for interior success, and that has certainly helped. But I’m starting to come to grips with the fact that my choice to follow a career as a first responder, while it has benefitted my family and myself enormously, has come at a cost. Combine with that the absurdities of modern society, and the anxieties and pressures of parenting children, and I’ve been finding my fortitude to be mightily tested. I’m afraid I’m come down with a moderate-to-severe case of cynicism.</p><p>George Carlin once said, <em>‘Inside every cynical person is a disappointed idealist,’ </em>and I strongly agree. I’m by nature a pretty soft-hearted, idealistic person, but with high ideals come high expectations—and high expectations are basically impossible to meet. I spent much of this year (<em>years</em>, really) embracing my newfound cynicism because it seemed easier and less painful than having my impossibly high expectations disappointed again and again. Fortunately, I stumbled upon a book called <a href="https://www.jamil-zaki.com/hope-for-cynics" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Hope for Cynics</em></a> by Jamil Zaki, and it has been an amazing tool for recalibrating my perspective on life. The book proves—scientifically—that Samwise Gamgee was correct when he said, <em>‘There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.’ </em>I highly recommend that anyone and everyone read it—it’s exactly what the world needs to hear right now<em>. </em></p><p>Cynicism is not conducive to creative work, so my 2024 AMG output was abysmal. Instead of listening to new albums, I listened to my <strong>Manowar</strong> playlist over and over and over. At one point, I finally pulled the trigger and told <span><strong>Steel</strong></span> I needed to step away. I felt good about that decision, that is until my friend <span><strong>Kenstrosity</strong></span> had his home destroyed by a hurricane. The way the Angry Metal community banded together to support <strong><span>Ken</span></strong> broke through the hard crust that had been forming around my tender heart. The staff, and especially <em>you</em>, the readers, jumped at the chance to help, and it was incredibly inspiring—and it once again proved just how wholesome and unique this little internet community can be. I’m resolving to stay involved, producing whatever content I can make time for, but more importantly, to just be around. When times are hard, I tend to withdraw, but I’m finding that those are the times when I really need to fight to stay engaged.</p><p>Thanks for your patience and for your even-handed, if brutal, leadership, <span><strong>Steel</strong></span>. Thanks to everyone who makes this place so special; you are all agents in the war on cynicism. Special shoutouts to <span><strong>Dr. Wvrm</strong></span>, <strong><span>Ferox</span></strong>, and <span><strong>Doom_et_Al</strong></span> for hanging out with me in person—extra special to <span><strong>Doomy</strong></span> for letting me crash at his place—and to <span><strong>Crispy Hooligan</strong></span> (Rest In Retirement) for recognizing and chatting with me at a <strong>Judas Priest</strong> show. It was awesome to take my AMG community into three dimensions this year.</p><p>Well, you’ve heard enough from this gloomy goose! Rest assured that I’m looking to 2025 with hope and a healthy skepticism instead of my usual oscillation between idealism and cynicism. Onto the tunes!</p> <p>#ish. <strong>Judas Priest</strong> // <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/judas-priest-invincible-shield-review/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Invincible Shield</em></a> – This one comes as a bit of a shock to me. When it first released, I was pretty indifferent. I really enjoyed the previous album <em>Firepower</em>, but I didn’t feel a strong need to hear or enjoy a new <strong>Judas Priest</strong> album in 2024. I have my ten-year-old son to thank for changing my mind. While I was driving him to school one day, he randomly said, ‘<em>Dad, my favorite band is <strong>Imagine Dragons</strong>, but my favorite music is heavy metal.</em>’ I knew I had to capitalize on this make-or-break moment, so as soon as I got home, I bought two pre-sale tickets to the <em>Invincible Shield</em> tour. Seeing these legends with my boy was a core memory that I will always treasure, and while I prepped for the show, I began to see <em>Invincible Shield</em> for what it really is: one more gift from the metal gods of old, one that is far more energetic and ruthless than it has any right to be. Sample: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLPaGqGzdY0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Panic Attack”</a></p><p>#10. <strong>Necrophobic</strong> // <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/necrophobic-in-the-twilight-grey-review/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>In the Twilight Grey</em></a> – As someone who gained their black metal fangs because of <strong>Necrophobic</strong>’s modern-day sound, I understand that I’m unfairly biased to enjoy everything they’re putting out these days. But biased or not, I absolutely dig what <strong>Necrophobic</strong> have done on <em>In the Twilight Grey</em>. They’ve taken just about every shade of black metal available and incorporated a bit of this one and a bit of that one to construct a varied collage of blackened brutality. The guitar work on this record is exemplary, and it speaks to my classic heavy metal heart with lead after lead that could fit on just about any <strong>Priest</strong> album. I didn’t listen to much black metal this year, and this album is partially to blame. <em>In the Twilight Grey</em> arrived early on and essentially sated my appetite for blackened platters. Sample: <a href="https://centurymedia.bandcamp.com/track/shadows-of-the-brightest-night" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Shadows of the Brightest Night”</a></p><p>#9. <strong>Ironflame</strong> // <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/ironflame-kingdom-torn-asunder-review/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Kingdom Torn Asunder</em></a> – Consistency is an underrated and often maligned trait when it comes to music, but it’s something I really value. I love when every day is just about the same as the last. I can eat the same meal three times per day, no problem. As I mentioned above, I can listen to the same <strong>Manowar</strong> playlist on repeat for months at a time. I like consistency because I like to know what I’m getting. <strong>Ironflame</strong> has become my poster child for consistency when it comes to modern traditional metal, and I while I may know exactly what an <strong>Ironflame</strong> record is going to sound like before I ever play it, I take an enormous amount of joy finding my preconceived notions to be 100% accurate. Andrew d’Cagna can write killer metal anthems in his sleep, and <em>Kingdom Torn Asunder</em> is full of them. Sample: <a href="https://ironflame.bandcamp.com/track/sword-of-a-thousand-truths" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Sword of a Thousand Truths”</a></p><p>#8. <strong>Vitriol</strong> // <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/vitriol-suffer-become-review/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Suffer &amp; Become</em></a> – This album definitely tested the limits of my musical taste. <strong>Vitriol</strong>’s brand of death metal is so punishing that it becomes overwhelming for me, but <em>Suffer &amp; Become</em> includes just enough beauty to let the beast shine by contrast. Full disclosure: I have to be in the right mood for this album. It is so dense, so challenging, so <em>heavy</em>, that it makes me uncomfortable. Without relying on the overt groove or melody that usually anchors the music I enjoy, <em>Suffer &amp; Become</em> manages to hook me through pure violence, leaving me just a few fleeting moments to pop my ahead above the surface to grab a quick breath before dragging me back below. Released back in January, my response to this record was the first indication that my taste (and my list) in 2024 would be trending in a brutal direction. Sample: <a href="https://vitriolwarfare.bandcamp.com/track/the-flowers-of-sadism" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“The Flowers of Sadism”</a></p><p>#7. <strong>Oxygen Destroyer</strong> // <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/oxygen-destroyer-guardian-of-the-universe-review/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Guardian of the Universe</em></a> – As I went to wheel my thrash can to the street, I wondered if it would even be worth the trip. While I didn’t listen to all that many albums in total this year, I had an especially noteworthy dearth of thrash albums that caught my attention. Fortunately, the one album that <em>did</em> end up in my thrash can filled it to the point of overflowing. <strong>Oxygen Destroyer</strong> has received <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/holdeneyes-top-tenish-of-2021/#:~:text=Oxygen%20Destroyer%20//%20Sinister%20Monstrosities%20Spawned%20by%20the%20Unfathomable%20Ignorance%20of%20Humankind" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">honorable mention on my year-end list</a> before, but this time around, the band has leveled up in so many ways that it was impossible for me not to put <em>Guardian of the Universe</em> on my list proper. Where previous albums were more of an even death/thrash mix, this one is an absolute thrashterpiece, and every single song has at least one earworm riff that refuses to leave my brain. Lord Kaiju’s utterly pissed-off vocals are the perfect match for what the rest of the band is doing musically, and with one forthcoming exception, there was no better half-hour set of music with which to torture myself this year. Sample: <a href="https://oxygen-destroyer.bandcamp.com/track/banishing-the-iris-of-sempiternal-tenebrosity" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Banishing the Iris of Sempiternal Tenebrosity”</a></p><p>#6. <strong>Aborted</strong> // <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/aborted-vault-of-horrors-review/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Vault of Horrors</em></a> – I’m a late-stage <strong>Aborted</strong> adopter. <em>Vault of Horrors</em> was my first exposure to the band, and the uniqueness of this album is probably responsible for why I’ve come to enjoy the band so much. I was at first put off by all the guest vocalists, but then I remembered that I love hardcore vocals. <strong>Aborted</strong>’s mixture of brutal death and deathcore is already potent, but when a host of talented hardcore and metal vocalists add their voices to the mix, the result is an adrenaline-pumping, testosterone-boosting beatdown. One of my favorite metal moments of the year goes to witnessing many of these cuts live in the mighty presence of my Angry Metal brothers <span><strong>Ferox</strong></span> and <span><strong>Doom_et_Al</strong></span>. <em>Vault of Horrors</em> has been one of my gym mainstays since its release, and that quality alone is nearly enough to boost an album onto my Top Ten(ish). Sample: <a href="https://abortedmetal.bandcamp.com/track/death-cult-feat-despised-icon" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Death Cult”</a></p><p>#5. <strong>Unhallowed Deliverance</strong> // <em>Of Spectres and Strife</em> – I honestly can’t remember what review it was for, but one of our lovely readers suggested this album in the comments, and I haven’t been able to stop listening to it. <strong>Unhallowed Deliverance</strong> is another band that mixes brutal death metal and deathcore, but where <strong>Aborted</strong> goes for the throat nearly 100% of the time, these guys throw in a pinch of atmosphere and a boatload of technicality to create an insanely strong, multifaceted sound. Frontman Arthur Haltrich complements his standard death/deathcore growls and shrieks with some of the gnarliest belches, gurgles, and verbal flatulence I’ve ever heard, giving <em>Of Spectres and Strife</em>’s sonic texture even more depth that its already intricate music provides. The record even includes a collaboration with Kenneth Copeland, the artist responsible for <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/holdeneye-and-cherd-of-dooms-top-tenish-of-2020/#:~:text=Kenneth%20Copeland%E2%80%99s%20%E2%80%9CThe%20Judgement%20of%20Covid%2D19%20Metal%20Remix%E2%80%9D" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">my 2020 Song o’ the Year</a>. Sample: <a href="https://unhalloweddeliverance.bandcamp.com/track/treatise-on-the-lowest-form-of-man-2" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Treatise on the Lowest Form of Man”</a></p><p>#4. <strong>Nemedian Chronicles</strong> // <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/nemedian-chronicles-the-savage-sword-review/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Savage Sword</em></a> – It’s been many months since <span><strong>Iceberg</strong></span> grossly underrated this absolute gem, and it is a gem that I’ve clutched as greedily as if I’d personally plucked it from a cursed dungeon’s treasure hoard ever since. When I first sampled <em>The Savage Sword</em>, I was intimidated by its 70-minute length, but it took little more than a single listen for me to realize that this album is incredibly well-executed from start to finish. Yes, <strong>Nemedian Chronicles</strong> made the bold choice to start the record with what are essentially <em>two</em> intro tracks, but they are so epic and genuine that they act as a pair of tentacles, forcefully drawing me into the concept’s Hyborian world and setting me up to enjoy of deep immersion. The rest of the album is a masterclass on how to properly deliver epic heavy and power metal goods, and it is frankly the best <strong>Blind Guardian</strong> album released since the 90s. Sample: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnj-77CsyNc" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“The Savage Sword”</a></p><p>#3. <strong>Brodequin</strong> // <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/brodequin-harbinger-of-woe-things-you-might-have-missed-2024/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Harbinger of Woe</em></a> – More like <em>Harbinger of</em> <em>Whoa,</em> amirite? I could probably sum this album up with just that single word ‘w<em>hoa</em>,’ but <span><strong>Steel</strong></span> would most likely force me to sit on that old-timey chair on the cover art if I didn’t elaborate. This was another comment section find, and I’ll be damned if it didn’t grab me almost immediately—a rare occurrence for music of this level of intensity. The production on this album raises it so far above much of its comparable competition because it so perfectly balances the material’s speed and chaos with an overwhelmingly tangible heft. <em>Harbinger of Woe</em>’s 30-minute runtime is so bludgeoning that my watch sometimes registers my listening sessions as cardio, so I’d like to think that this album has made me a healthier person in 2024. <strong>Brodequin</strong>, or <strong>Brother Quinn</strong> as I like to refer to them, can take comfort in putting out one of the finest brutal death metal albums in a year filled with quality brutal death metal albums. Sample: <a href="https://brodequin.bandcamp.com/track/of-pillars-and-trees" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Of Pillars and Trees”</a></p><p>#2. <strong>Keygen Church</strong> // <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/keygen-church-nel-nome-del-codice-review/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Nel Nome Del Codice</em></a> – In what is perhaps my greatest musical surprise of the year, this album instantly bewitched me body and soul, and I love, I love, I love it, and wish from this day forth never to be parted from it. I’ve enjoyed some of Victor Love’s work in <strong>Master Boot Record</strong>, but as someone who is drawn to liturgical expressions of spirituality, <strong>Keygen Church</strong>’s inclusion of Baroque organs and choirs absolutely godsmacked me from moment one. If you asked me to name the greatest song of all time in <em>any</em> genre, I’d probably go with Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor,” so it should come as no surprise that <em>Nel Nome Del Codice</em> feels as if it were tailormade to tickle me right in the pipe organs. I have no idea how music like this is produced, but my hat is off to Love for creating such a powerful aural experience. Sample: <a href="https://keygenchurch.bandcamp.com/track/sulla-via-della-gloria" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Sulla Via Della Gloria”</a></p><p>#1. <strong>Hell:on</strong> // <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/hellon-shaman-review/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Shaman</em></a> – When I dropped a 4.5 on this back in May, I was pretty confident that nothing else would be able to top it, and since I’m almost always right, I was right, of course. <strong>Hell:on</strong>’s mix of death metal, throat-singing, ritualistic rhythms, and Eastern instrumentation makes me feel like I’m trapped within some infernal combination of a death metal concert and a <em>Witcher III</em> boss fight, and it’s a feeling that has yet to get old. The band went all-in on the inclusion of their Ukrainian cultural elements within their music this time around, and it was an incredible success. In a year where death metal made up the majority of my top records, <em>Shaman</em> had to fight to keep its place upon the top of the heap, but no other album felt as spiritually dense to me in a year where I’ve fought to find my own personal peace. The textures offered here both exhilarate me and help me into a meditative state, and the resulting empowerment has been a Godsend to me. Sample: <a href="https://hellonband.bandcamp.com/track/what-steppes-dream-about" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“What Steppes Dream About”</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Honorable Mentions</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Brothers of Metal</strong> // <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/brothers-of-metal-fimbulvinter-review/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Fimbulvinter</em></a></li><li><strong>Pneuma Hagion</strong> // <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/pneuma-hagion-from-beyond-review/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>From Beyond</em></a></li></ul><p><strong>Olde Record (and Hot Take) o’ the Year</strong></p><p><strong>Manowar</strong> // <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K70nC0FbxiU" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Warriors of the World</em></a> – When I wasn’t listening to new music in 2024—which was really, really often—I was probably listening to <strong>Manowar</strong>. I listened to them so much, in fact, that my streaming platform placed me within the band’s top 0.1% of listeners worldwide. <em>Warriors of the World</em> was the first true heavy metal album that I ever purchased, and so many of its songs remain personal favorites to this very day. As I ravaged the band’s discography this year, I came to the realization that <strong>Manowar</strong> circa 2002 is the absolute highwater mark for heavy music. This album has some weird inclusions that make it feel somewhat unbalanced and goofy at times, but I’m convinced that if the band had cut a bit of the fluff and added in the two cuts from the <em>Dawn of Battle</em> EP, <em>Warriors of the World</em> would have been a 5.0 and the greatest metal album of all time. Disagree? Then you’re not into metal, and you are not my friend. Just kidding. We can still be friends, poser!</p><p><strong>Disappointment o’ the Year</strong></p><p><strong>In Aphelion</strong> // <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/in-aphelion-reaperdawn-review/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Reaperdawn</em></a> – After <strong>In Aphelion</strong>’s debut <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/in-aphelion-moribund-review/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Moribund</em></a> pummeled its way into the top tier of <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/holdeneyes-top-tenish-of-2022/#:~:text=%233.%20In%20Aphelion%20//%20Moribund" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">my Top Ten(ish) of 2022</a>, I had huge expectations for its follow-up, <em>Reaperdawn</em>. Whether it is because several of the band’s members released a similar-sounding and stronger album with their main project <strong>Necrophobic</strong> or because these songs just don’t match up to the debut, this one just didn’t do it for me. It has a nice blackened aesthetic and some quality moments and performances, but it lacks the edge that made <em>Moribund</em> feel so genuinely dangerous. I hope to hear something new from these guys in the not-so-distant future, because I know they’re capable of going for my throat.</p><p><strong>Song o’ the Year</strong></p><p><strong>Hell:on</strong> // “I Am the Path” – This song resonated with me from the very first time I heard it. The way the song swings back and forth between brutal death metal and ritualistic groove strikes the perfect balance for me, and the folk instrumentation adds even more layers to the experience. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to “I Am the Path” this year, but just about every time I do, I feel my eyes wanting to roll into the back of my head so I can commune with the primal spirits of the earth. The track’s title and chorus have become something of a personal mantra for me as I’ve struggled to find inner harmony this year. It reminds me that I can make all the positive external changes in the world, but if I really seek health and joy, I must walk that most challenging of all paths: the path within.</p><p></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2024/" target="_blank">#2024</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/aborted/" target="_blank">#Aborted</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/blog-posts/" target="_blank">#BlogPosts</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/brodequin/" target="_blank">#Brodequin</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/brothers-of-metal/" target="_blank">#BrothersOfMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener 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Angry Metal Guy<p><strong><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/in-aphelion-reaperdawn-review/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">In Aphelion – Reaperdawn Review</a></strong></p><p><i>By Holdeneye</i></p><p>A celestial object is in aphelion when it is at the point in its orbit where it is farthest away from the sun. Good god, that sounds so nice right about now. Yes, I live in the temperate Pacific Northwest, and yes, my summer has probably been way cooler than yours, but that doesn’t change the fact that summer fucking sucks. Give me 40-50°F and rainy any day over this 80+ sunny bullshit. I blame my inability to handle warmer temperatures on DNA I inherited from my straight-outta-Norway great-great-grandad, Knut,<a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/in-aphelion-reaperdawn-review/#fn-201386-1" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">1</a> and I can’t wait until fall and winter rear their damp, dreary heads and restore some goddamn order around here. In the meantime, it would be nice to have some sort of musical cooldown; yes, a fresh batch of icy black metal through which I could fantasize about wet, windy days and early falling nights would probably be just what the doctor ordered. Enter <strong>In Aphelion</strong>. These guys wowed me so much with their debut record <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/in-aphelion-moribund-review/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Moribund</em></a> that it <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/holdeneyes-top-tenish-of-2022/#:~:text=%233.%20In%20Aphelion%20//%20Moribund" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">earned a top-3 spot</a> on my year-end list for 2022. Let’s see if follow-up <em>Reaperdawn</em> can follow suit and cure my horrendous case of swamp-ass.</p><p>Originally intended to be an outlet for <strong>Necrophobic</strong> guitarist Sebastian Ramstedt’s more progressive ideas, <strong>In Aphelion</strong> quickly auto-corrected its sound into that of a ferocious melodic black metal band. Ramstedt, who handles lead guitar and vocal duties for the project, quickly recruited <strong>Necrophobic</strong>’s other guitarist Johan Bergebäck to perform the rhythm parts and <strong>Cryptosis</strong> drummer Marco Prij, and after initially handling bass himself, this time Ramstedt has handed that job off to <strong>Necrophobic</strong>’s Tobias Christiansson. Needless to say, <strong>In Aphelion</strong>’s output has a strong <strong>Necrophobic</strong> bent while still maintaining it’s own unique identity. Embedded single “When All Stellar Light is Lost” shows the band’s <strong>Necrophobic</strong> sensibilities with its melodic tremolo intro, but injects a far more savage, thrashy attack than that more well-known band is used to employing. Ramstedt’s vocals are the perfect black metal utterances, and his solo towards the end of the song is spellbinding.</p><p></p><p><strong>In Aphelion</strong> are definitely at their best when they lean into their strengths of laying down aggressive black metal laced with majestic, frozen melody. The title track is the perfect example. Like the aforementioned “When All Stellar Light is Lost,” it oozes <strong>Dissection</strong>-y energy and exhibits Ramstedt and Bergebäck’s considerable chemistry as a guitar duo. It’s the kind of song that hearkens back to the glory of <em>Moribund</em>, and I can almost feel myself howling from atop a snow-covered peak as I listen to it.</p><p>Unfortunately, most of the rest of <em>Reaperdawn</em> brings me back down to my sweltering reality. <em>Moribund</em> was so amazing because it had multiple Song o’ the Year contenders and the rest of its songs nearly matched those. That just isn’t the case here at all. The world-beater highs just aren’t present, and when they almost land (see the incredible conclusion to “They Fell Under Blackened Skies”), they often have a bit too much extraneous material smothering them. <em>Reaperdawn</em> is eight tracks and 50 minutes, and while it is shorter than its predecessor, the material doesn’t feel nearly as essential—alas, there’s not a single song on the level of <a href="https://edgedcircleproductions.bandcamp.com/track/let-the-beast-run-wild" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“Let the Beast Run Wild”</a> here. Many of these songs (“The Field in Nadir,” “A Winter Moon’s Gleam,” “Further From the Sun,” “They Fell Under Blackened Skies,” “Aghori”) could have been trimmed by a minute, or three, to enhance their effect, and I think that may have strengthened the entire album. “When All Stellar Light is Lost” and “Reaperdawn” are great tracks, but overall, <em>Reaperdawn</em> feels like it meanders too much—many of the atmospheric bits seem to add less to the equation than last time around—and I kept finding myself wishing the guys would just keep the pedal mashed to the floor.</p><p>I was hoping for an arctic blast to the nether regions, but what I got felt more like a lukewarm soak. Like me, <em>Reaperdawn</em> bears incredible strength but suffers from a bit too much flab. It was always going to be hard for <strong>In Aphelion</strong> to match their magnificent debut, and while they muster up a couple of fantastic songs here, the rest get lost in a haze of excess. For my money, <a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/necrophobic-in-the-twilight-grey-review/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this year’s</a> <strong>Necrophobic</strong> feels far more vital. <em>Reaperdawn</em> sounds like a band pushing against the boundaries of its identity, but in the process, that identity has become blurred and dulled. I hope these guys can hone things down and come for my throat next time.</p> <p><strong>Rating:</strong> 2.5/5.0<br><strong>DR:</strong> 8 | <strong>Format Reviewed:</strong> 128 kb/s mp3<br><strong>Label:</strong> <a href="https://www.centurymedia.com/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Century Media Records</a><br><strong>Website:</strong> <a href="http://facebook.com/inaphelion" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">facebook.com/inaphelion</a><br><strong>Releases Worldwide:</strong> August 9th, 2024</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2-5/" target="_blank">#25</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2024/" target="_blank">#2024</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/aug24/" target="_blank">#Aug24</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/black-metal/" target="_blank">#BlackMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/century-media-records/" target="_blank">#CenturyMediaRecords</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/cryptosis/" target="_blank">#Cryptosis</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/dissection/" target="_blank">#Dissection</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/in-aphelion/" target="_blank">#InAphelion</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/international-metal/" target="_blank">#InternationalMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/necrophobic/" target="_blank">#Necrophobic</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/reaperdawn/" target="_blank">#Reaperdawn</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/review/" target="_blank">#Review</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/reviews/" target="_blank">#Reviews</a></p>
🤘 The Metal Dog 🤘<p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/TheMetalDogArticleList" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TheMetalDogArticleList</span></a><br><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/BLABBERMOUTH" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BLABBERMOUTH</span></a><br>Reaperdawn</p><p><a href="https://blabbermouth.net/reviews/reaperdawn" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">blabbermouth.net/reviews/reape</span><span class="invisible">rdawn</span></a></p><p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/INAPHELION" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>INAPHELION</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Reaperdawn" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Reaperdawn</span></a></p>
🤘 The Metal Dog 🤘<p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/TheMetalDogArticleList" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TheMetalDogArticleList</span></a><br><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/BraveWords" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BraveWords</span></a><br>IN APHELION Feat. NECROPHOBIC, CRYPTOSIS Members Release "A Winter Moon's Gleam" Music Video</p><p><a href="https://bravewords.com/news/in-aphelion-feat-necrophobic-cryptosis-members-release-a-winter-moon-s-gleam-music-video" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">bravewords.com/news/in-aphelio</span><span class="invisible">n-feat-necrophobic-cryptosis-members-release-a-winter-moon-s-gleam-music-video</span></a></p><p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/InAphelion" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>InAphelion</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Necrophobic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Necrophobic</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Cryptosis" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Cryptosis</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/BlackDeath" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>BlackDeath</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/HeavyMetal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>HeavyMetal</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Reaperdawn" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Reaperdawn</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/SebastianRamstedt" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>SebastianRamstedt</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/MarcoPrij" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>MarcoPrij</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/JohanBergebaeck" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>JohanBergebaeck</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/TobiasCristiansson" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>TobiasCristiansson</span></a></p>