Album Review: Aephanemer - Utopie
Reviewed by Oli Gonzalez
Just when you think you’ve seen it all in the world of extreme metal, a band like Aephanemer come along and completely shatter conventions and rewrite the rulebook! Hailing from Toulouse, France, the band have earned a reputation for their melodic death metal sound that expertly blends folk and classical influences. “Utopie” perfectly encapsulates these elements in one bold statement of an album. You still get the more traditional extreme metal components you’d expect from a band of this genre, especially with the ferocious drumming that emerges from ‘La Regle De Jeu’, or the fierce vocals from front woman Marion that may be seldom used in the latter stages of the album but are a welcome mainstay in the early stages of the album. Perhaps a little too abrasive and ferocious at times, but nobody can deny her talent behind the mic. Another mainstay is the passionate and skilled lead guitar display from Martin with every blazing lick and scorching riff easy to admire.
All of that could be said for any metal band though, so what makes Aephanemer different then? I alluded to the classical influences earlier, and feel ‘Chimere’ is one of the better examples of this approach. The orchestral elements, for instance, add a greater sense of dynamism and overall emotional depth to the composition. When combined with the aforementioned blazing lead guitar solos, there’s a truly epic and grandiose feel at times!
Ready to lose yourself in an epic ballad? Of course you are! Then immerse yourself in the final three tracks of the album. Beginning with ‘La Riviere Souterraine’ (note to self; I really should have made more attention to French class in high school!), forget the typical verse-chorus-verse-chorus and other predictable song patterns. No, here you’re taken down a series of cascading musical movements that defy conventional song structures and offer an experience seldom found within the genre! This run of songs is as complex as it is challenging, and designed to conjure up myriad of emotions. You may find yourself feeling more relaxed and possibly even a little serenaded in the opening few minutes of ‘Utopie (Partie 1)’ with this delicate and intricate passage. All before your senses are smashed by another off Martin’s signature scorching guitar solos, and Marion reminds me of what a force she is behind the mic once again! With each of the three songs hovering dangerously close to the 10 minute mark, this may well hinder the opportunities available on most radio stations. Though it’s an investment of time with a highly satisfying return. As is the rest of the album. “Utopie” is a statement by a band poised to carve their own path and create music in their own unapologetic and non-compromising manner.
