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Background
Check: Atman is a black metal two piece formed in 1992
in Spain. With only three albums in the span of 18 years
before L’Assassi de Venus, Atman is hardly what one
could call prolific. Both members have had other
projects like Argar, Spectre and Empty, some of which
are still active, which puts the quantity of their
output in perspective. L’Assassi de Venus is the band’s
first with Romanian label Sun & Moon.
Upon first
spin of L’Assassi de Venus one would be wise to assume that
Atman make their black metal with an absolutely no frills
approach. Where the band starts, in speed, mood and structure,
the band ends. Get a little deeper though, and the album reveals
itself to be a slightly more decorated and sophisticated affair.
During the whole album the guitars have this really electric
sweeping tone, the barrage sound is so dense I wouldn’t be
surprised if there were three or four guitars recorded here.
That alone reigns the majority of the songs. On the same token,
if there is something that may affect this band negatively, is
the prevailing guitar sound that gives a few of these tunes too
similar of a vibe.
Get a little
closer to the songs though, and you are bound to find much more,
sublime and brief acoustic passages (middle part of “El Triomf
Dels Somnes Sobre La Vigilia”, the awesome strumming at the end
of “Quan La Lluna Sent Nostalgia”), mediatically color this
monochromatic record. I mean, just take a look at the insert;
there are only two moods here; sad and sadder. And maybe a third
one; fucking depressing. So there is black and white and grey.
And so is their music colored this way, it is played with total
sureness and has such a robust sound (through robust production)
that it may turn off those only into the necrotic and lo fi, but
truth be told, despite the apparent professionalism, Atman never
break out character, even during the most melancholic moments,
when the speed slows down and the songs get down, the sound of
Atman remains pure and bleak.
Even then,
we can hear the grunting growls of either Darshan or Damastor (I
am not sure what each plays) who must be noted, vocalizes with
fangs. He’s got the bite. Yeah, it is hard to find incredible
vocalists in this genre, where everyone is out there, and
Atman’s mikeman may not be one but he surely has a very sharp
edge.
L’Assassi de
Venus shows a band that has its sound down. The formula has been
written and cast in stone. Atman has made their own rules and
now they are following them. Their sound is good, their music is
powerful and, for a change, evil. To me, they score points by
going professional without releasing a shiny, bland, safe, and
over produced album. Them satanic dudes know what evil is truly
made of.
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