One of the primary conundrums affecting this Dutch death metal troupe as they approached their sophomore album must have been how to top their debut’s cover art. Sporting, as it did, a shot of a lady’s peach, there’s not really much else that could equal such perfection. With a fourteen year gap to think about ‘what next?’, Antropomorphia have accordingly gone for something more ‘arty’ yet no less graphic or erotic. (You’ll have to check it out.) But going on about their choices in controversial cover art is perhaps selling this band short. Having been around since 1992, they have evidently been sporadic though well-regarded in their output. Like many people out there, I assume, ‘Evangelivm Nekromantia’ is therefore my first encounter with this intriguing lot.
Their Metal Blade debut initiates with a bit of dissonant guitar, piano, some sinister chanting and sporadic string grating. As the dying strains of the intro segue into the opening track proper, it’s clear that Antropomorphia like their haunting occultism just as much as they appreciate the ladies. Great swathes of dissonance and heavy chords set the scene for a deathly, considered serpentine crawl to emerge out of the obscurity. Unceremoniously, this hypnotic passage is disrupted by a burst of speed (heavy rather than fast) which, along with the overall imagery, evokes fond reminiscences of Akercocke (WORSHIP WOMAN, PRAISE SATAN) albeit in a slowed down form. ‘The Mourned and the Macabre’ raises the occult stakes yet further with more trance inducing death metal and an eerie, echoing vocal emission at the beginning of the track. The pace is comparable to that of a number of old school bands I can think of though Antropomorphia’s approach is captivating, with some imaginative guitar and drum fills driving the compositions along nicely.
I imagine that live, Antropomorphia’s irreligious concoctions must be brilliant. The driving nature of the material, combined with some immaculately constructed hooks, must result in at least a crushed skull or a broken neck post-gig. Speaking of which, perhaps the most furious track on offer here is the Germanic titled ‘Fleisch’ which combines some unrelenting brutality within its brief three minute playing time. Although generally, fast/brutal = best for me, this really isn’t the case with Antropomorphia. As great as ‘Fleisch’ is, there is so much within the band’s sound to appreciate: from the nuanced guitar work of ‘Impure Desecration’, the hulking menace (and thick bass) on ‘Psuchagogia’, and a fixation, in general, with writing engaging material. This is certainly death metal of the articulate and sophisticated variety. Instances, like the up-tempo section a minute-and thirteen-seconds into ‘Nekrosophia’, don’t just grow on trees. Well, not unless you’ve made a pact with the man downstairs, which I can well imagine Antropomorphia have.
A thunderous downpour, much like that of ‘Raining Blood’ underpins the final track of the album. Aided by some surprisingly genial bass lines, this closing four stringed statement proves to be the climax. Whilst to some small extent such a ‘subdued’ ending is surprising, given Antropomorphia’s proficiency throughout, it really comes as no great shock at all. In essence, ‘Evangelivm Nekromantia’ proves to be a dark and thoroughly mesmerising take on the genre. Whilst stylistically it may not be to everyone’s taste, Metal Blade can be justifiably proud of having signed such quality and must, like myself, be hoping that it doesn’t take another fourteen years before album number three.
(8.5/10 Jamie Wilson)
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