Band: Achren
CD Title: Blood Metal
Year: 2006
Website: achren.com
MySpace: myspace.com/achrenmetal
Label: None
Featured on: Loucifer Speaks Exclusive
Rating: 8.5 / 10
More Links: Please feel free to discuss Achren in the Loucifer Speaks forum.
Running your own webzine definitely has it's advantages - especially when you get to listen to something as good as this.
Achren hail from Scotland and fly the flag for something called Blood Metal. Musically I'm not sure what separates this from Death Metal, but the lyrics - full of blood-thristy imagery about torture and the like - certainly seem deserving of such a title.
The EP kicks off with "Impaled". This track gives a good idea of what Achren are about. The main riff is somewhat reminiscent of (good) 80's Thrash, the vocals could rival the most competant Black Metal vocalists and the rhythm section looks set to tear you a new arsehole.
Achren seem to focus more on the extreme areas of metal (rather than that Thrash I mentioned earlier) in "Shock & Awe". This track is relatively brutal, but the cunning use of melody makes the track fantastically addictive.
"Darkest Day" has an enormously powerful intro, and the ability to evoke a sense of awe doesn't stop there - The entire track is worthy of a decent headbanging session.
With "Bastards (on the Gallows or Bastards on the Rack)" it feels like Achren have left the best for last as this is my favourite track on the EP. It's relentless pace makes the blood (and any other substances you happen to have in your bloodstream) pump around your veins at about 100mph and the guitar solo begs for you to whip out your air guitar.
This release is definitely worth spending your pennies on.
01 Impaled
02 Shock & Awe
03 Darkest Day
04 Bastards (on the Gallows or Bastards on the Rack)
