Anima Hereticae – Descended From The Mountains
Release Date: 22nd September 2023
Label: Self-Released
Bandcamp
Genre: Blackened Death Metal
FFO: Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum, Amon Amarth.
Review By: Paul Cairney
It is rare that a self-released debut album grabs the listener by their metaphorical balls and proceed to rip them off, providing a subtle hint of intense pleasure! Finnish Blackened Death Metal band, Anima Hereticae have managed to achieve this feat with their debut full-length, Descended From the Mountains.
Opening up with an instrumental palette-cleanser, Anima Hereticae then launch themselves into arguably the best track on the album, ‘Two Wolves’, although this best track assertion may be challenged by ‘Cimmerian Darkness’. However, with ‘Two Wolves’ being so early in this captivating album, it is the track that makes the horns tingle, ultimately building a sense of anticipation for the rest of the album. Throughout the track, we get excellent vocals, urgent yet melodic riffs and, most unsuspecting, wonderful keys adding unsuspected layers of depth.
Although described as Blackened Death, Anima Hereticae take the best of Scandinavian MeloDeath and incorporate that into their repertoire. This blending of genres is managed with aplomb, resulting in an album that is both aggressive and, when required, restrained and somehow relaxing. This is the feeling you get when listening to the aforementioned ‘Cimmerian Darkness’, with its gentle intro. The track then has a large hint of Omnium Gatherum until the vocals arrive, where Ville Rutanen has a hint of Johan Hegg in his delivery.
In ‘Kalman Väki’, the vocals vary from melodeath grunts, black metal growls as well as the odd clean vocal. This helps set the track apart, forging an album with true depth and atmosphere.
With 7 tracks on offer, across some 43 minutes, Descended From the Mountains is almost the perfect length. Only the intro lasts under 5 minutes, and so each track has the opportunity to develop into itself, creating its own individual sense of identity. This is critical in keeping the album as interesting and varied as it is. Each track stands on its own merits, there are no weak songs on this album, each one deserves its own video on YouTube!
When the final notes of the album closer, ‘Descended From The Mountains’, exit the recesses of your mind, you are left with a sense of loss. It’s over! How did that happen? Fortunately, you can press play again, and Anima Hereticae will then impress you even more.
Descended From The Mountains is not only an excellent debut, it is a truly great album.
(4.5 / 5)
