Anthems of Gomorrah : “Aelvica II”

Anthems of Gomorrah is undoubtedly one of the interesting names when it comes to the American black metal scene. The band has been created in  2003, returning this year after a ten-year hiatus, more active  than ever.

Today, the duo releases their third full-length album, “Aelvica II”, which is their second full-length for 2022, with a third to be released in September. The inspiration is undoubtedly there, and the songwriting skills polished and waiting to be blasted to your ears, mesmerizing you in a somehow familiar and yet raw and dark, haunting tale.

“Aelvica II”, as the title itself suggests, is the second part of the “Aelvica” album series, started with the first album of the year. It contains eight tracks of furious black metal with original and compelling lyrics,  telling a  story and thus  keeping the listener following the lines  with interest.
The title has multiple musical influences, with the musicians combining everything through their own vision, capturing the essentials and recreating their own trademarks uncompromisingly  – the brutal vocals brought to the fore, occasionally supported by spontaneous calls, the atmospheric guitars and the black ‘n’ roll style blasts.

“Witch-Queen of Taifera” – the first track from the album, starts with an ethereal atmospheric intro, which quickly turns into a whirlwind of traditional shouts, crazy drums and cutting guitars, telling a story of magic and ancient evil. A fascinating track, radiating coldness and beastial  energy, thanks to the overall structure of the song, refined intelligently and at the same time, with a lot of emotion invested.

The following track, “Equites Aelvicae”, is quite possibly one of my favorites on the album, as it combines a whiff of Blut Aus Nord’s fuzzy space-blasting instrumentals with Anthems of Gomorrah’s raging vocals of  TK, resulting in a haunting song that exudes both serene airiness and ferocious fury. It’s fascinating to hear such a combination and this song deserves special attention on the album.

The remaining six songs on the album follow the same atmosphere and idea – etherial soundscapes combined with traditional American black metal, black ‘n’ roll, death metal and beautiful ideas in terms of composition and lyrics. Simultaneously in one song we can hear both  delicacy and fury, we can hear both guttural low  brutal and high traditional black metal vocals.
There is a certain duality throughout the record that gives it originality and authenticity.
It’s interesting to listen, to think about the concept of the album and to feel this mixture of weightlessness and grandeur.

“Aelvica II” has a lot to offer to  the ear  – beastial  fury, old-school spirit and definitely some original aims. Here  we can enjoy a combination of different styles and an undeniably charming dark atmosphere, described as a story of ancient heroes, sublime deities and battles from times long forgotten.

Score: 9/10 ????????????????????????????????????
Favorite Tracks: “Equites Aelvicae” & “Aosoth Massacres the Populace of Kaznus Aelva as Punishment for the Blasphemous Worship of the False God Kalanis”

Hear the album on  BandCamp :