Amenra
Mass IIII


4.0
excellent

Review

by Powerban USER (9 Reviews)
March 31st, 2010 | 168 replies


Release Date: 2008 | Tracklist

Review Summary: What happens when a song is made to make you distressed and then say it's sorry, only to see your reaction and then punch you in the face?

It could also plan ahead and ambush you like you're a child taking a strangers candy, only to kidnap you and lock you in a small claustrophobia inducing air-tight room. It would be in complete control of your breathing while holding you hostage as your skin amasses goose bumps as you sit there in shock. What the hell is going on? You ponder, without taking a breath.

In this state it is beautifully tormenting you by forcing mental images of magnificently hand-crafted woven blankets upon a nice warm bed. It then gives you the bed, the blankets and caresses your cheek as you start breathing again. There is only one problem, you are still in the same room with no way out and you don't even realize because you are wrapped in its intricate serenity.

It then pours gasoline all over the magnificently hand-crafted woven blanket and flicks a lit match onto it. It watches you squirm before you are engulfed in the flames. You then wake up and Track 2 is starting, are you ready to do it again?

This is Post-Metal.

So how does Amenra differentiate from the others in this genre? Well they rely heavily on trudging sludge riffs to bore into your aural senses more so than most. They focus on death in every single song they write, every aspect of their album is black as the night sky, every single riff, as well as every single scream is set to traumatize a non-experienced listener. Everything about Amenra sweats out possibly the darkest feelings you will ever get from listening to a band. Place your headphones upon your head for this one because as soon as you put the first track Silver Needle. Golden Nail on, you are surrounded by an eerie build up with chant-like whispering and a soft pitter patter of the snare drum. It has you already preparing your defenses as you sense the threat of the incoming hurricane about to ravage through your metaphorically built house. When the hurricane finally reaches it's aural destination it tears up your imaginary white picket fence and impales it through your window as glass hails down upon your tiled floor.

Hurricane Amenra has just landed and it's here to stay for 48 minutes. Its riffs will leave you hypnotized. They don't change much at all though, which leads to it being its main downfall as well. If there wasn't the calm in the eye of the storm starting with the track Razoreater it would become too repetitive. The song stops suddenly to a near complete silence with clean incoherent vocals and slowly builds up into coherency for the first time on this whole journey. Clean vocals continue in the next song Aorte which lays off the crushing sludge-riffs to begin with and you will immediately wonder if Aorte was somehow a track on a Cult Of Luna album as it emulates their sound perfectly. The album goes back to its less experimental sludge roots with the last song feeling a little lackluster compared to the last two you just heard.

Overall you are left with mixed feelings upon the first few listens. Razoreater and Aorte will appeal to most post-metal enthusiasts straight away and the tracks Silver Needle. Golden Nail and De Dodenakker are really great tracks for the sludge lovers.



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user ratings (339)
4
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
Powerban
April 1st 2010


2384 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Band is officially known as 'Amenra' or stylized as 'AmenRa' and I'm not sure how to change this in the database. So any help is appreciated.



Also, anyone that wants to point out any mistakes in the review, it would also be appreciated.

bodiesinflight57
April 1st 2010


870 Comments


I was thinking of reviewing this, great record. Really dark atmosphere.

Glad to see them get a review up here.

Powerban
April 1st 2010


2384 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I hope I did them enough justice. Aorte, Razoreater, Silver Needle and De Dodenakker are amazing.



I'm thinking of reviewing their acoustic Afterlife EP which is a total different contrast altogether. They're touring with Steve Von Till for all you Neurosis fans btw.

Voivod
Staff Reviewer
April 1st 2010


10946 Comments


I should check this.

Wizard
April 1st 2010


20564 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

If there wasn't the calm in the eye of the storm



I see what you did there, very nice Neurosis reference! Excellent review dude, I like how you played this one out with the metphors. You didn't need my help with this either ; ).

Powerban
April 1st 2010


2384 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Thanks dude. I actually took some time with this one instead of writing something in 10-15 minutes like my last reviews.



I actually set out to write a story, rather than a review.









Wizard
April 1st 2010


20564 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

Worked well dude!

bodiesinflight57
April 1st 2010


870 Comments


Yeah it is a good review. Wish they'd come to the UK

Powerban
April 1st 2010


2384 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I honestly think these guys would give the most depressing feeling show ever. Would be great to see live.

Zoo
April 1st 2010


3759 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Godd stuff man, Amenra rules. The III+IIII comp is epic.

Relinquished
April 1st 2010


48975 Comments


Yeah this album rules hard. I'm gonna go ahead and add the rest of the albums.

Nikkolae
July 30th 2010


6762 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

funny thing that when i downloaded this album the genre description came as "Sludgecore" lol, De dodenakker is such a terrific song, i absolutely love this album and i really dont listen to much post metal

eternium
August 25th 2010


16358 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Just listened to this. Fucking awesome.

Hollow Severer
October 20th 2010


14 Comments


It's on my to-listen list, but your review was very enjoyable. The metaphor game works very well!

kangaroopoo
January 4th 2011


3175 Comments


pos, 'razoreater' great, will check out III+IIII

wyankeif1337
January 4th 2011


6739 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Mass V coming soon-ish, get pumped

kangaroopoo
January 4th 2011


3175 Comments


oh and V, the catch up never ends

eggsvonsatan
April 11th 2011


1087 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I'm enjoying this a decent bit, but the harsh vox are pretty tough to swallow.

Rev
April 11th 2011


9882 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

love this

Nikkolae
April 11th 2011


6762 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

such an awesome album



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