March 2021 - Top Picks: Dvne, The Hyena Kill, Archierophant

The world feels like a slightly different place at the end of March 2021. Lockdown restrictions are easing, you can see your mates again, gigs are actually being booked - maybe with a healthy dose of optimism, but it's something now that the last 'normal' concert we were at was now over a year ago - and god forbid, the sun's actually out at the moment. Yeah, in the Midlands. Who'd have thought it?

We return with more top picks after a month off. There was a lot to pick from March, such as Eyehategod, Recall the Remains, Memoriam, Callous Hands and a live Conan album to name a few. These three really stood out, though...

Dvne - Etemen Ænka (progressive/post-metal) - Metal Blade Records

Dvne's Asheran from 2017 was a staggering debut, but they've somehow one-upped themselves on Etemen Ænka. More expansive, more progressive, and more elements to their sound, Dvne have really unleashed a masterpiece here. The addition of a keyboardist adds a stronger spacey feel to the songs to complement the sci-fi lyrical concept, although doesn't dominate or throw its weight around too much. Everything just sounds better this time round - from the production to the vocals, much stronger and more confident than on Asheran. It's hard to pick a favourite track, as each is a journey and incredibly strong within themselves, but I lean towards 'Sì-XIV'. It sums up what Dvne do well on this record - namely, their control over dynamic buildups and climaxes is just supreme.

I reviewed Etemen Ænka for MMH Radio, which you can read here. It's the first time I've given a new release a perfect score.

The Hyena Kill -  A Disconnect (atmospheric alternative rock) - APF Records

The Hyena Kill sound bigger, badder, and better than ever on A Disconnect - with three quarters of an hour's worth of unashamedly modern rock music that takes clear cues from the likes of Deftones and Muse. There's a nice variety of sonic landscapes, from the upbeat and energetic likes of 'Passive Disconnect' or 'Bleached' that get the blood pumping. On the flipside, The Hyena Kill are also very good at the more emotive, pensive songwriting found on 'Cauterised' or 'Glass Scene' where atmosphere and mood are prioritised over anything else. Noticeably, the album really grows on you with each listen as you uncover a new layer that was previously undiscovered. I managed to grab hold of a lovely pink vinyl of A Disconnect, and it sounds even better on my turntable than my crappy earphones via Spotify. Worth every penny, and minute.

Archierophant - Birds of Joy and Sorrow (symphonic black metal/doom) - independent

The solo project of Lewis Borthwick, also of Grimorte, Birds of Joy and Sorrow takes the listener on a well-structured journey that starts off grim and heavy, but ends on a real breath of fresh air by the end. The effect of this EP lightening up and dialling down the heaviness with each subsequent track leaves you uplifted by its end, which you wouldn't expect from the fantastic opener 'Alkonost', a symphonic, dissonant black metal rager that's a real statement of intent. Archierophant nod to doom metal with 'I Do Wander' before the symphonic elements really come into their own for the second half of the release, with the use of operatic clean vocals cleverly acting as an orchestrated instrument rather than a lead focal point. Birds of Joy and Sorrow has a surprising amount of re-listen-ability (is that a word?) and deserves more attention than it's had so far.

Read my full review here

MN