1 Nov 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Akaname - Akaname Album Review

01 Nov 2011 // A review by CEOMong

I must say it's rather refreshing to hear an album like this, some real inventive action, and not a single word spoken by a vocalist. Amazing. Most times this can get old, but I get the feeling I’ll be drumming these beats out on my desk for weeks to come. The weird bits will keep me coming back, this’d be a choice album to rock out to at work.

At times bluesy, Kyuss kind of style, there’s lots of tweaky soundbytes and charged fillers give it a little something extra. I hear HLAH also at times ... something about the pace, the intros, and the almost audible soundbytes perhaps? I hear lots of other beasty influences in there, certainly nothing you could say ‘hey that’s this band’s signature’ or whatever, but certainly enough to let it appeal to a large audience of metallers and rockers out there.

I don’t know if it's me, but the way the timing seems off in places, like it's all sort of put together where the band has just been jamming is kinda wicked – then it all gets sort of ... sharpened ... and chops your skull open. Very well done.

Excellently mixed, they’ve achieved a very clean sound that allows a really nice atmos to be built up that’s not focussed on any particular section of the band.

Transmutation – atmos slowly builds up over a minute or so, chewy little samples in there to grab your attention, into electro riff. Prepping rhythm sounds, headfirst into headrocking foot tapping goodness. Almost casual somehow improve sounding riffs, so good it sounds laid back and effortless. Cool. Continues on what would be a wicked awesome soundcheck in real live land for the remainder of the 6¼ minute track. Ties those soundbytes back in nicely at the outro ...

Correspondence – out of phase hook keeps you guessing, before lurching into wicked little picking riff, coupled with a very nicely mixed rhythm section - love the audibly perfect top hats. Fantastic attention to some very delicate gax action – and there’s those soundbytes again. Nice. Hard to get a feel for what’s coming, and that makes me want to listen more ... I can’t help but feel I’ve been here before but I can’t quite figure it out, like some intense dream. Mellow 30 sec outro ...

Vibration – intro segues nicely into martial drumming pace, power chords ... continues the pace for 90 secs or more, gets progressively stauncher ... nice tweaky atmos. Steps up a gear 150 secs out with some wandering gax. Builds nicely into a peak around a minute out before rolling on out.

Polarity – change of pace, back to chewy riffs and a bit more play. Nice heavy growlie parts – not easy to do without a vocalist. Nice tweaky gax play, some real nice thrash moments in there too.

Rhythm – quick picking, drumming out of phase, very cool intro. Heavy bassline, tweaky gax riff to round it off. Beasty chorus. I like it.

Gender – delicate picking intro heavy bass rhythm ... kick drum ... eerie. Desk drumming and boot stomping material here. Slow, ponderous pace, like some heavy metal elephant. Nice crescendo moment a little over halfway through ... whitespace 90 secs out leaves me tapping the keyboard ... oooooh what’s that? It’s pretty eerie, whatever it is ...

Causality – a 44 minute track!? Picks up the outro seamlessly, straight into hard rocking in your face thrash. Nice range of what the band have got diced and stir fried ... a track this long would be spoiled by lyrics, I’m glad there’s none! Drop into ... silence a little after 6 minutes ... odd little whispers make me stop typing long enough to listen ... this is freakin weird ... maybe it's all in my head? Wind in the trees at 30 minutes, surely everyone can hear that? Gaaaaah!  

This is the end of an era,
CEOMong

 

About Akaname

The name Akaname (pron: Ah-kah-nah-meh) is taken from a Yokai demon that appeared in Japanese artist Gazu Hyakki Yak--'s The Illustrated Night Parade of A Hundred Demons. The word translates literally into English as "Filth-licker" and the loose mythology portrays an Akaname as an ambiguous creature, neither good nor evil, that hides in ones bathroom, nourishing itself on human filth.

Akaname is an instrumental post-metal quartet currently based in Melbourne, Australia. Their sound is heavy, angular and atmospheric, drawing parallels from polarized influences including Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects, Crowpath, King Crimson, Tool, Knut, Sigur Ros, Blotted Science, Cephalic Carnage, Isis, Magma, Cult of Luna, Kobong, Zatokrev and more.

Originally conceived in Wellington in 2005, Akaname released their debut EP Filthlicker on US based Debello Recordings in Dec 2007, a 5 track excursion in experimental grindcore that showcased the bands early love of heavy progressive music.

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Akaname

Releases

Akaname
Year: 2011
Type: Album
As Above So Below
Year: 2009
Type: EP
Filthlicker
Year: 2008
Type: Album

Other Reviews By CEOMong

fleaBITE - Album Review: The Jungle is Jumping
21 Jan 2015 // by CEOMong
This is one kid’s CD that is unlike any other I’ve heard – The Wiggles they aren’t, unique they are, that’s for sure! My subject matter experts for this album are my wee girls Liz, 7, and Jen, 4½ - after repeated listens I asked them for their opinions on each track … with mixed results … and accompanying their comments are my thoughts.
Read More...
Shihad - FVEY Album Review
20 Aug 2014 // by CEOMong
I don’t know if it’s all in my head or not, but Jaz Coleman’s influence lends a certain classic element and a brooding depth to this album that breaks away from what has become, in recent times, some would say too radio-friendly jams. There’s a satisfying depth to the album the louder it gets – when isn’t that true for Shihad though, I suppose?
Read More...
Crash-Scan - Repeat Until False Album Review
21 May 2014 // by CEOMong
Mint physical release, a damned fine example of the post-CD era! I’ll admit up-front that even after several listens I couldn’t quite gel with this album ...
Read More...
Tankapalooza Festival, Palmerston North - 28/09/13
29 Sep 2013 // by CEOMong
12 hours, 27 bands, 3 stages, Willow Park tavern. From the start I was intrigued – “how they gonna make that work?
Read More...
Head Like A Hole Monsta-X Tour @ The Royal, Palmerston North 17/08/13
18 Aug 2013 // by CEOMong
As first experiences go, this was pretty epic. I’d never seen HLAH before live, and honestly had no idea what to expect.
Read More...
Bloodsport – Blackest Darkness Album Review
14 Aug 2012 // by CEOMong
Short (sub 2 minute for the most part) grunty songs, strong consistent themes and imagery, all in all a very solid offering. At times predictable but also, therefore, reliable.
Read More...
Crimson Rain - Catastrophe Single Review
21 Jun 2012 // by CEOMong
Delicate intro, rolls into a picky soft hook. Nice vox harmonies throughout.
Read More...
Sinate - To The Death Album Review
14 Mar 2012 // by CEOMong
Damn I’m impressed, this is one cool album – especially as loud as I have it right now. I consider myself lucky to have the privilege to hear something like this, and it’s from Kiwis!
Read More...
View All Articles By CEOMong

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • APT.
    ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
  • DIE WITH A SMILE
    Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
    Billie Eilish
  • TASTE
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
    Gracie Abrams
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • SAILOR SONG
    Gigi Perez
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
    Chappell Roan
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem