Review Summary: Acathexis has just set the standard for black metal in 2024. Good luck trying to surpass it!
Acathexis is a mysterious group of guys. They burst on to the black metal scene 6 years ago with their ferocious self-titled debut (which was/is a furious whirlwind of riff heavy atmospheric black metal).....and then they disappeared. Not a peep about any new music. That is until now. Acathexis is back boys and their second album
Immerse is a real kick in the nuts.
Of course I mean "kick in the nuts" in a good way. It takes something truly special to blow me away after listening to black metal for 2 decades and Acathexis just seem to hit all the right spots. The production makes this album what it is. It's fuzzy and hazy yet everything is easily decipherable. There's slight and subtle post-rock, gothic and folky leanings throughout. The whole vibe is very airy and naturally raw, possibly reminding the listener of albums such as Agalloch's
The Mantle or Woods of Desolation's
Toward the Depths. The riffage is varied and catchy. There's plenty of tremz to be found but there's also some progressive and psychedelic influences sprinkled into the madness, keeping up with the lighter and almost relaxing atmosphere.
The star of this show, however, is the soaring and epic vocal performance. They're like the icing on an already delicious cake. The sheer force of the poltergeist like banshee shrieks has got to be a strain on this guy's vocal chords but the power and emotion that comes from that strain is well worth it. Think of early era Dani Filth vocals, put them into a demonic blender and thats what you have here. The highs are painful and uneasy. The low growls echo like a boulder being thrown off a skyscraper. They are just incredibly done and deserve all the praise.
Immerse was well worth the 6 year wait. Acathexis took their time crafting this album and it paid dividends for them. When it comes to modern atmospheric black metal, you aren't going to find many albums that are better or more powerful than this one right here. My personal black metal bar is high and
Immerse has passed with flying colors.
