Founding member of French band Eths, Staif Bihl hasn’t had the easiest time of things of late. Firstly original singer Candice Clot decamped in 2012 but luckily a replacement Rachel Aspe was found shortly after and got her baptism on the group’s last EP Ex umbra In Sodom in 2014. It also appears original drummer Guillaume “Yom” Dupré also left recently and for the second time too, so what’s a band to do? Well in the case of Ankaa an album taking name from Alpha Phoenicis, the brightest star in the Phoenix constellation they went and drafted in Dirk Verbeuren, from the band Soilwork to hit things. So with a lot of coming and going, one can only wonder if they still can deliver as solidly as they did on their first 3 albums? Luckily it’s quickly obvious that they can and also that Ankaa is an album with much more ideas and styles in it than previously. Still rooted in a metalcore vein this long album is packed with plenty of different nuances and direction wise has a hell of a lot going on in it that should keep old fans happy as well as attracting plenty of new ones.
Symphonic and pummelling with rabid vocals we are flung into choppy opener Nefas and given a right old shaking with the extreme barrelling sound coming in from all angles. This drops out into some heady atmospheric parts which ooze and slither out with quieter rasped almost whispering voices and choral backing male vocals. It’s all rather intriguing and when some clean female vocals also chant away you are clearly in for a varied ride just on the first number. Proving itself as an album that feels like it is dipping into Ancient cultures and conveying a real sense of history about it there are many interludes from the in the face aggression. An Arabic twisting harmonious choral part is delivered on second track Nihil Sine Causa by Arkan singer Sarah Layssac and it’s a totally enthralling and somewhat unexpected direction for the band to take but also a wholly enjoyable one. Also rasping away on this one is Threat Signal vocalist Jon Howard and if that’s not enough a heavy electronic element is added into the track. So with more ideas in the first song than most albums pack in over their whole duration it’s at first a bit of a mission taking it all in. luckily after repeated plays it all gels together in a rich tapestry that’s a delight to immerse yourself in.
There’s stacks of rigorous groove layered out and some strong melody throughout with vocals going from angry and guttural to the other end of the spectrum, gorgeous and captivating. Songs are ever evolving and changing, twisting and turning and dropping different elements into the mix such as some classical grand piano opening ‘Seditio,’ the schizophrenic and indeed theatrical flamboyance keeping you on your toes throughout. Obviously vocals are mainly in French but that just adds to the overall mystery of it all as far as I am concerned. This feels like the work of a band who have really gone on a journey, one that they are determined to take their listeners on with them. Trying to describe everything you hear (at the moment on longest track Nixi Dii I’m intrigued by what sounds like a bit of throat singing) would take pages of script hopefully I’ve given an indication but the best advice here is expect the unexpected. Out of adversity Eths have accomplished diversity (why is there a baby suddenly crying?) and delivered a rather remarkable album, certainly one of, if not the most original ones I have heard that can have a metalcore tag used as descriptor. With half an hour still left I’m off to ride the rest out and if you too feel like taking the trip Ankaa comes highly recommended.
(8/10 Pete Woods)
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