If you are a fan of French band Griffon whose 3rd album ‘De Republica’ is due to drop any day now, boy have you got a treat in store for you even before you get to it. Vocalist Aharon has got together with others with past ties to the band along with the live drummer of the excellent Jours Pâles to release a debut album from relatively new project A/Oratos. I guess they realised there was another US band called Aoratos which basically means unseen, shadowy or invisible but were so hung up on using the moniker they differentiated things via an additional slash mark. They released a three track independent EP ‘Epignosis’ back in 2019 and have no doubt been honing their craft since then. Although I love both Griffon and Jours Pâles I went in with no expectations here and am pleased to say ‘Ecclesia Gnostica’ is another revelation and has pretty much blown me away.
It’s similar in many ways to Griffon, very proudly French and with a touch of their medieval darkness running through the seven tracks and as one would anticipate Aharon puts on a powerhouse performance, snarling and cleanly hollering his parts magnificently. But who exactly is guitarist Wilhelm? Metal Archives lists him as being in no other bands past or present but I simply cannot believe that as he is superb here. He also has photos showing him dressed in white robes with a gold facemask (and guitar) kind of Imperial Triumphant style which must look great visually when playing live. Together with bassist Léo Dieleman and drummer Romain Gudet we have an incredibly proficient unit here, which one listen to the album should certainly prove.
Surging energy, death grunts and powerful thick melody charges out the speakers on opener ‘Le hiérophante’ and the listener is convincingly swept off their feet. It slows to some soothing guitar and spoken verse before ploughing back in again. An absolutely fantastic opener with plenty more to follow. The jubilation and vigour of both music and performance here really is second to none and leads into ‘Daath’ where one starts to pick up some classical touches subtly embedded into the melody. Lyrically things seem quite complex, obviously sung in French. Thankfully the CD booklet has a summary of the meanings and symbology behind things in English so further depth can be reached.
It’s the music that will keep you on your feet though especially on the fantastic ‘Deuteros.’ Starting with haunting melody the guitars overflow with jagged shard-like sculptures that I suddenly realised remind me a fair bit of Borknagar. Then some clean vocal harmonies sweep in crooning away and adding a divine touch to things. Another comparison is made due to them, this time to Solefald and if you are a fan of these bands you should be listening to this post haste! Ecclesiastical ecstasy and excellence all in one track. Quick scale flurrying has ‘Discilpina Arcani’ hitting high peaks, Wilhelm drives you to the summit and sends you giddy before tempering things down to acoustic play momentarily, prior to the entire band hitting the rafters with triumphant and zealous aplomb. Dark forbidden sorcery from spoken text, swathing blackness and atmosphere prevail on ‘Ô roi des eons.’ Full of progressive twists and turns it’s another enthralling chapter. The complexities of the musicianship never fail to impress here. The drama summoned by the furrowing guitar weaving on De la gnose éternelle is nothing short of jaw-dropping. There’s neo-classical frenzy and shredding mania flowing from the musical gnosis on display and there’s no pause for breath at all. Finally, you may catch one in the opening orchestral strains of ‘Le septième sceau’ before this final Seventh Seal whips you off into delirious conclusion and leaves you feeling both enlightened and empowered wondering just what on earth you have experienced.
I have been totally addicted to this since it arrived and make no mistake A/Oratos have hit like a mysterious bolt from the blue. The score simply has to reflect the music and the experience of this ‘gnostic adventure,’ the only thing that can top it ultimately will be experiencing it live. Hopefully at some point this may well be an eventuality. I’m now patiently awaiting the Griffon album with one question on my mind. It can’t be as good as this can it? I guess time will tell but for now you are urged to rush to the bandcamp link and find out if you are as similarly overwhelmed by ‘Ecclesia Gnostica’ as I am.
(9/10 Pete Woods)
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