Review Summary: Refreshing semi-epic Black Metal
Khaos Aeon from Germany has been perpetually underrated. It’s time to pull it out of the underground and there’s no better time to do that than with the release of its latest album ‘Koenigreich’. Its previous releases were well-received, with the last one released through a label, but Khaos Aeon has released the new one independently, and it’s easily the band’s masterpiece.
Where Khaos Aeon’s sound was rooted in Dissection on its previous releases, on this one the band has tried something different and that’s always welcome. It’s almost like Post-Dissection music if that makes any sense. Regardless, the band has stepped out of any mould as such and is creating music independently – free from genre-limitations, influences-trap and expectations as well.
The band has epicness in its blood – all songs reek of it. It’s an album that’s to be heard with an open mind because it’s hardly even Black Metal – the band is in its Bathory – ‘Twilight of the Gods’ phase almost, with the music sounding quite different though. It’s best when the leads are flying high and the riffs are poignant enough to melt a warrior’s steel.
The band’s dabblings in Eastern sounds is palpable but it’s not fully achieved yet. It’s even evident in the booklet and presentation which is beautiful and extremely professionally done. This is high quality music meant for easy listening which can be a drawback for some, as there are hardly any moments of intensity. That however is made up for in the captivating and refreshing atmosphere, devoid of the clichés.
As such ‘Koenigreich’ is a refreshing album, one of the best ones in this genre I’ve heard of late.
