This is the second release from Adati, Indonesian raw black metal. Hauntingly dark melodies and claustrophobic atmosphere thanks to the harsh production is par for the course here. I never grow tired of these types of albums and the song writing here is great thanks to the wicked guitar riffs and surprisingly diverse drumming. The production on this album is a bit more present rather than in their first release. The instruments are all a bit more vibrant and audible rather than the muffled sounds of the first album. Still, the gritty viciousness is still very present.
After being greeted by an eerie chime, the album kicks in right away with screeching guitars and harsh blast beats. The vocals on this release are also much more present when compared to their first album. They blend in well with the vocals and the harsh effects on it give it a rather otherworldly effect to it. A lot of the times, these bands tend to forget about keeping the guitar riffs and drums diverse. Opting for the a repeated riff over and over again on top of some blast beats, luckily Adati really shines through with their creativity and skill, creating for wonderful and at times very atmospheric riffs and guitar passages that really push a very somber vibe. There are also some softer moments on the album, like on the third track Forefather of Wrathful, with a somber guitar piece that breaks up the track into two distinct parts and is just executed beautifully. There are other moments on the album like that as well, but all in all its a raw and lo-fi ordeal with plenty of interesting riffs.
They also did a cover of another Indonesian band Mystis. They started back in 1996 after changing their from Legion Lost to what they’re known as now, Mystis. Going back and finding the particular album that Adati cover titled, Mystical, the track, Legenda Mataram Kuno, originally is much less noisy. The style is very much in the vein of traditional black metal, but there’s heavy melodic influence that has the Mystis stand out from other black metal acts of the late 90s and early 2000s. Cut to today, we have Adati making a very powerful homage to the band that they were most likely listening to growing up. The modern day style of the very noisy lo-fi production makes the song feel much more sinister and dark, giving it much more of a massive sound. The vocals that they provide as well are even better than what Mystis were doing, even though they are rather similar. The added effects just help it a long way. I’d recommend giving Mystis a listen if you’re able to come across them.
There’s not much more to say that I haven’t already said. This album is incredibly well put together and is incredibly charming thanks to the skillful guitar work and production here. A gem like this should really be known within the lo-fi realm of black metal as it stands with some of the great names as well. I could go on for ever about the little details on this album, but I think that’d really defeat the purpose here. I’d highly recommend this album and people should give it a listen.