Aldheorte – Where Gods Have Eyes to See
Band: Aldheorte
Album: Where Gods Have Eyes to See
Label: Independent
Release date: July 12, 2024
Country: USA
Format reviewed: High-quality digital recording
A black metal entity rearing its head from the USBM underground, Aldheorte has released their debut full-length album, Where Gods Have Eyes to See, which proved to be a high-quality piece of black metal greatness. The band plays in the style of Second Wave Scandinavian bands, with a touch of melodic black metal in the vein of Dissection. Along with the incredible album artwork which will instantly draw your attention, the album itself is incredibly immersive, allowing the listener to get lost between songs and riffs.
Something rather interesting that I would like to add about my personal experience with this album, is that I found it by accident. I was in search of a particular album by Winter Lantern, and while I was looking for it, I happened to notice this record. Needless to say, I was intrigued and I decided to give it a listen. I can say for certain that I was not, in any sense, disappointed. I actually enjoyed it so much that I listened to it multiple times afterwards, simply because I loved the atmosphere and the general feeling that it gave off.
Where Gods Have Eyes to See starts with the track “Monuments”. It opens with a Dissection style riff, which soon explodes into a storm of intensity and epicness, with soaring screeches like the howls of the wind, fast-paced drawing, and guitar melodies that eerily resemble both Emperor and, as previously mentioned, Dissection. The song varies, including a variety of passages, which alternate between slower and faster rhythms. The guitar work is undeniably complex, having the trademark “cold”, melancholic sound, but which still comes off as full of power, and, most definitely, longing for something more. The vocal performance ties the composition together, wrapping it into a shroud of ghost-like sensations.
The album follows up with the title track, an equally impressive piece of music, that builds on the foundations laid down by its predecessor. The riffs are slightly less intricate here, with a stronger focus on the more grim aspects of the composition. This makes the song overall feel very straightforward and powerful. As in the case of “Monuments”, there are numerous sequences present within the composition, which alternate between faster and slower tempos. This also gives the guitar work its moment to shine, the slower segments showcasing the songwriting abilities of the band. The vocal performance is equally powerful as on the previous song, this time, however, with a little more melancholy infused in its sound.
“Gilded” brings about a shift in the sound of the album. From the first seconds of the song, it becomes clear that this is going to be a slow paced, sorrowful piece of music that oozes sensibility. It is rather gentle sounding when compared to the intensity of its predecessors, which personally I can’t help but find particularly pleasant. The less pummeling approach behind this track allows the album to breathe, and also to build more on the atmosphere and sentimental aspects of the music, without coming off as exaggerated or cliché. In any case, it is one of the songs that I would recommend checking out first to someone getting into Aldheorte’s music.
“Devilry” is undoubtedly one of the most epic songs on this album, and that is saying something. Written in a fashion that evokes Emperor’s “In the Nightside Eclipse”, but while also growing into its own entity, this song is incredible in every sense of the word. It has great riffs, unrelenting drumming and vocals that send chills down your spine. What more could one possibly want? The melancholy fades beautifully into the epic aspects of the song, these two contrasting moods laying at the base of the song structure, breathing life into the music. And it has a particularly dramatic ending. I think I’ve said enough.
As we reach the half of the album there is the masterpiece known as “Communion”, another epic track, this time, however, with a stronger focus on the melancholic side of the music. The whole composition has an unusual pessimistic feel, that obscures the more powerful aspects of the music almost entirely, letting only a faint glimmer of light shine through the impenetrable riffs and drumming that leaves behind nothing but a bleak gloom of cold. The song in general feels very cold, even during the more lighthearted moments. What I find impressive, however, is that the band doesn’t compromise or dilute their sound in order to create these more sentimental passages. They maintain almost the same intensity throughout the whole record, and that is definitely a strong point.
“Old Heart” marks the return to the band’s initial unrelenting sound, bringing about some thrashy beats in the first section of the song, before settling to a slower pace, dominated by the vocal performance. Everything changes when the drumming picks up and we are once again faced with a storm of riffs and blast beats flying into the darkness like a nocturnal beast. Speaking of riffs, this track brings about a return to the complex, melodic guitar work that dominated the beginning of the album, bringing the music closer to its Second Wave roots.
“An Oath Writ in Blood” is yet another banger that adds another layer of drama to the established nocturnal mood of its predecessor. Its melodic riffs infused with darkness, along with alternating tempos, help create that dramatic contrast that I mentioned previously, thus highlighting the artistry of the song itself. There are many shifts to be found in the guitar work, which combines more simple, straightforward passages with more elaborate, melodic ones. Personally, I love it.
“Enthroned in Natural Majesty” is more or less what one would think of when hearing the title. This track reflects, in its pacing and structure, the feeling of being alone in nature, of being empowered by the grandeur of the natural world. The drums are the fertile soil on which everything grows, The guitars are the trees that reach higher and higher towards the sky, and the vocals resemble the wind, soaring and howling across the world, carrying everything through time and space. It is a very meditative piece of music, while also being powerful, and full of energy, and that’s what truly makes it a great song.
Closing in the album there is “Silence After the Fall”, a contemplative, yet undoubtedly fiery track that mirrors the energy of “Monuments”, yet in a much more meditative way. It feels like the end of a long journey, along which both the horror and splendor of nature have shaped and changed the traveler into a different person. In a way, it is my favorite song on the album, due to the fact that it wraps all previous musical ideas so beautifully into an incredible ending. I really cannot offer a proper description of this song, thus all I can recommend is checking it out yourself.
With this record, Aldheorte have managed to achieve something that other bands will achieve much later in their career: Shaping their music into an unique entity, that slowly carves its own path into the vastness of the underground. Where Gods Have Eyes to See promises a fruitful future for this project, while also being a great piece of music. 9.5/10 by Ioanna
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