‘When playing this, it brought back memories of listening to early European Prog, Heavy Psych Rock, Sabbath, Coven, Pentagram and also modern doom, Cathedral, Devil’s Blood, Windhand, etc.’
Album Type: EP
Date Released: 26/05/2015
Label: Self Released
‘Strange Aeons’ CD/DD track listing:
1). Join the Ritual
2). The Deep
3). Sons of Basket
4). The Witch is Rising
5). Black and White Lady
6). And Die!
Akasava is:
Louis Hauguel | Vocals
Amelie Gavalda | Bass
David Touroul | Drums
Review:
There is an expression that comes to mind to start this review, WOW! These French dudes from Le Havre have produced a collection of songs of exceptional class. The EP is full of various styles and influences, obscure seventies occult rock, early Prog, Proto-punk, Proto-Metal, Folk, the list goes on. But saying this doesn’t mean that this is a band jumping on the retro bandwagon, the music has been produced with soul and feeling which gives their EP an up to date vibe.
The EP kicks off with a short intro ‘Join the Ritual’, which sets you off on a journey to death. Cymbals chime, deep throbbing organ pulsates which leads you on a journey to ‘The Deep’, a track driven by the riffs of the Devil himself. They smash into your body like a ton of bricks while gritty vocals vibrate your eardrums into submission. ‘Sons of Basket’ arrives in a Stooges style, bass throbs, drums thunder, riffs increase, a great guitar solo arrives and in all this the atmospheric organ comes in to give order to the proceedings. Now to the track of the EP ‘The Witch is Rising’, a beautiful intro draws you in and brings you to your knees to summon the Witch. I say ‘All hail the Witch!’ Eerie vocals arrive to call the Witch to rise. Riffs then increase in tempo and as the evil vocals become more disturbing, you feel the Witch rise. Pure class! ‘Black and White Lady’ hits you right between the eyes from the start. Catchy riffs, brought together with a grinding vocal performance which gets your blood flowing and head banging. Entwined with all this excellence is the eerie sound of the organ imitating the stirring of blood and entrails within the Witches cauldron. ‘And Die’, says goodbye to the world as we know it, the awesome sounding organ takes you on your final journey, to your death!
Akasava have produced a collection of songs which grabbed me on my first listen. The EP is short, approx 11minutes but what they have packed in within that time is something of evil and beauty. When playing this it brought back memories of listening to early European Prog, Heavy Psych Rock, Sabbath, Coven, Pentagram and also modern doom, Cathedral, Devil’s Blood, Windhand, etc. But another influence I did spot, especially on ‘The Witch is Rising’ was Devil Doll. I hear The Doctors musical influence in many a band within the European rock scene, which is only a good thing. I also noted a cough during ‘The Deep’, was that a demon being evicted from the human? I can’t recommend this release enough. Look forward to a full length release from Akasava in the near future and UK gigs of course.
Words by: Brian Mclean
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