Akouphenom are a blackened death metal band
hailing from Galicia, Spain. Formed in 2015, they’ve steadily built a
reputation within the underground through their intense live presence and a
growing discography that has carved their own niche in extreme metal. Their
2023 debut full-length, “Death·Chaos·Void”, marked an important step forward,
showing a band capable of conjuring oppressive atmospheres and violent energy
in equal measure. Now, with “Connections To The Erebus”, released through Unorthodox Emanations—the death metal division of Avantgarde Music—the band return with a shorter
yet equally potent work, consisting of four tracks born from the same sessions
as their debut.
At its
core, “Connections To The Erebus” is an exploration of the transition between
life and death. Told from the viewpoint of a dying man, the EP immerses the
listener in a sonic journey of dissolution and passage. Its lyrical choice is
notable: for the first time, Akouphenom embrace
their native Spanish, adding a raw intimacy to the experience. The opening
track, “Absurd Of The Arkhe”, stretches past eleven minutes, an expansive track
that shifts from oppressive heaviness to sections of atmospheric desolation.
This is followed by “Extrema Unción”, a ritualistic and suffocating track,
before the shorter “Abismo” and “Limbo” deliver concentrated bursts of
darkness. Together, the four tracks form a work that is as oppressive as it is
immersive, with compositions that are monumental and personal.
The production, handled at The Empty Hall Studios, enhances the band’s sound with a cavernous weight and a sense of vastness that complements their themes of death and eternity. The riffs are suffocating, the drumming relentless, and the vocals—now alternating between the guttural and the anguished—feel even more visceral in Spanish, carrying a certain gravity that deepens the atmosphere.
“Connections
To The Erebus” is significant in scope. It feels like a continuation of the
same dark vision, one that refuses to soften its edges or compromise its
oppressive intensity. For listeners already drawn to Akouphenom’s
bleak soundscapes, this EP confirms their place as a rising force in the
contemporary extreme metal landscape.
Score: 6.9
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