ATARAXY - The Festival / The Tomb (ME SACO UN OJO - 7"EP 2016)
I really like what’s going on
in Spanish death metal scene nowadays, where some bands really prove to be
worthy and are better than anything what this country has spawned in the 90’s.
My two favourites are Graveyard and Ataraxy. Both have proven strongly that
there’re no better bands in their country. But I was getting little bit worried
that we hear nothing from Ataraxy since the release of their fantastic debut LP
“Revelations of the Ethereal”. I do hope they’re working on new record and that
it will be released soon. Meanwhile though we get this 7”EP “The Festival / The
Tomb”. It contains two songs that were recorded during the “Revelations…”
session, but were not featured on the actual album. I know what you may think
now… Two leftovers, so it means they were not good enough to be on the full
length. Well, I have to say that it doesn’t feel like it at all. When I listen
to both songs I feel exactly the same thrill which I do during the listening of
“Revelations of the Ethereal”. Both “The Festival” and “The Tomb” are great quality
death metal songs, which should be also on the album. And I think the only
reason why they’re not there is that the album would be just too long. Anyway,
it’s great that Me Saco Un Ojo released this seven inch, it’s killer addition
to my Ataraxy collection and occasion to listen to two new songs from this killer
band.
I believe that Ataraxy music
was becoming more and more original and worthy, getting more quality with each
new recording. Of course I still like their very “Sweden meats Autopsy” sounding
demo “Rotten Shit”, but what the band did on “Revelations of the Ethereal” is
so much better. And these two “outtakes” from the session sound incredibly
good. I love that dark, eerie atmosphere of the music, I truly like the
production. And the riffage, with great combination of slow and faster parts is
insanely good. For me this is perfect death metal, my most preferred style
within this genre. And Ataraxy knows how to play it, compose and arrange it to
make it sound better than 99% of other death metal bands around. I especially
love “The Festival”, with its great slow parts, creepy melodies, keyboards that
give it more obscure feeling and sudden outbursts of faster death metal that are
going to break necks of every headbanger. Honestly though “The Tomb” is also
amazing, it’s tad heavier, more brutal and vicious – especially the opening
theme here gives me a goose bumps every time I hear it.
So, outtakes or not, these two
songs are killer and it’s such a good feeling to listen to Ataraxy again. They’re
one of my favourite bands for sure, so I hope they’ll finally come up with
another album. Meanwhile, I strongly recommend this EP. Get it before it’s too
late.
Final rate: 90/100