Debuting from deep within the German underground comes a mind warping act named Aätra with their epic release titled The Nine Billion Heads of God. This is a fascinating album that I think will cause a lot of contention within the scene. Following in the footsteps of Trhä with it’s uplifting atmosphere and colorful approach to riffs, Aätra presents what I think is the new era of black metal. No longer are we clad in black and white with swords and chains, now the approach is colorful, full of light and a manic uplifting presence that’ll separate the release from the rest.
The album starts with a slow build up, starting strong with the heavenly atmosphere, though it’s tinged with something a bit of mania. With the synthetic strings creating a beautiful texture, it’s a perfect intro into the cacophonic blasting of the second track. Long melodic riffs are stretched across the endless blasting of drums and harsh vocals intermingle with the instruments like a wailing specter lost in a purgatoric state. The songs flow right into one another with the second track, Collective Ascension, feeling like it’ll end in some sort of epic crescendo, it simply falls right into the following track, Regenisis. It makes for a cohesive and interesting listen from start to finish.
The album is separated into what seems like three different sections that are separated by numbered tracks that act as an introduction into each section. These numbered tracks I – III share similar characteristics, leaning more into the ambience and atmosphere rather than just blasting you with its intensity. It’s a good break from the bombardment the other tracks throw at you and act as some creative transitions.
I am torn with this album. On one hand, I feel as though the band is much beyond Trhä, both creatively and sonically, but I still don’t like what I’m hearing. The songs drone on much too long and feels like the same repeating riff over and over again, barely having much difference between each other. At one point in my life, that tremolo wall of sound was comforting and impressive. Now, it’s simply boring and I believe over done in the modern era. There are aspects of the album I enjoy, the colorful instrumentals, the manic intensity of it all and of course the cosmic and spiritual presence this album is trying to push forward I think makes it very unique given what it is. But over all, I wasn’t too impressed. Maybe in a future release I’ll change my mind, but as of now, I’ll simply chock this up to a superior version of Trhä.