Melinoë

Solid effort, slightly affected by a weird production.

The second Black Metal offering from Akhlys continues in the same manner of complementing Melodic / Symphonic / Atmospheric ideas with more intense and extreme Black Metal approaches. As a whole, the album isn't as good as the previous work, in my opinion, but it's still a worthy release.

The ambient parts are much more apparent than they were on the previous album. There are some fully ambient songs, which don't really work for me, they go on for too long (especially in the case of "Succubare"). On the previous album, the ambient parts were cleverly placed as intervals between the really intense parts, but here they are taking over this album!

The drumming on the previous album was very good, but it somehow sounds more organic and powerful here. The vocals are just as badass as before, there is the same usual straight, raspy, throaty vocals without that much drama.

The guitar work is pretty solid, but I'm afraid there is something wrong with the production and mixing. Don't get me wrong, technically there is nothing wrong with the production, but it just sounds weird! Not bad, not great, just weird! Almost the same kind of weird production that ruined the third Nokturnal Mortum album.

Overall, I think this is a very solid album, but lacks the blasphemous attitude and crisp production of the first album. The songwriting and the riffs are still something to behold, but some parts go on for too long! All this said, this album is a great mixture of spiritual soundscapes and dark, desolate soundscapes.

Favorite track: "Ephialtes".