lycanthia-attenash-reviews

Review from Doom-metal.com

Thu, 14 May 2015 22:42:09 +0100

From: Doom-metal.com

Published: January 29, 2015

It's rather nice to see vinyl making a comeback these days, with sufficient pressing quality to erase the horror memories of the flimsy mass-produced rubbish that was deservedly supplanted by CDs in the late 80s. Leaving aside the audio merits of the different media, there's simply no contest in the superior packaging possibilities for larger formats.

Making full use of that is this limited edition 7" - yes, a Doom single - marking the equally welcome return of Canada's Hypnotic Dirge Records, after something of an extended break, to the world of underground releases. Nicely presented, with separate front-and-back artwork for each band, informational insert sheet and free stickers, you certainly get your money's-worth on that score.

It's very much a 'label-mates' sort of release, combining a teaser track from the newly-signed Atten Ash's imminent debut re-release and a placeholder track from the veteran Australians Lycanthia, currently preparing their third full-length album. Still, it's a match-up that works well enough, linked by the Death/Doom elements common to both bands, and with only 300 copies being made, it's also got exclusivity/collectability on its side.

The A-side is Lycanthia's contribution: 'The Harbinger', reprising a Gothic/Death sound which finally found wider distribution with HDR's worldwide re-release of 'Oligarchy' in 2013. Continuing the classy compositions found on that album, this a slow, atmospheric piece giving full feature to the band's triple-vocalled, early Theatre Of Tragedy-meets-Draconian-style contrasts. The interplay between the two female vocalists is particularly absorbing, as is the almost-String Driven Thing violinwork and bridge. Standing alone, as it does, between album releases, it makes for a tasteful and timely reminder that there are still bands who can really make that old-school Gothic mood work beautifully.

On the B-side is 'City In The Sea', by the promising-sounding US band Atten Ash. It's from their debut 'The Hourglass', originally recorded in 2012, but only now about to get its first physical release. Similarly old-school in inspiration, but in a more Melodic guitar-led vein, there's an understandable similarity to Daylight Dies - since both bands feature guitarist Barre Gambling. Atten Ash manage to inject a decent quantity of venomous aggression into the track, via harsh growled vocals and pacy blackened riffing, then offset it with some interestingly choral effects, clean metallic guitar leads and solos, and some softer interludes.

As ever, with short releases, it's difficult to really consider them essential to anyone except completists and collectors. This may have more to offer, on that front, in that there's no guarantee the Lycanthia contribution will be appearing anywhere else. Primarily, it does do the job as far as presenting a sampler of two bands worth investigating further is concerned, and both tracks are well worth a listen in their own right. Neither, probably, will stun anyone with their originality, but they just might with craftsmanship. And even if investing in the vinyl doesn't appeal, there's an alternative streaming/download option on Bandcamp to check out.

Reviewed by: Mike Liassides

Review from Horns Up Metal Show

Thu, 14 May 2015 22:38:14 +0100

From:Horns Up Metal Show

Published: January 24, 2015

Original Link

To hold us over until their new full-lengths arrive, doom duo Lycanthia and Atten Ash whetted our appetites with a brand new, split-7″ vinyl single earlier this week. Sydney’s Lycanthia tease us with a new track called “The Harbinger,” while North Carolina natives Atten Ash give us “City in the Sea.” The split makes perfect sense; each group adds its own unique touches, but both end up falling into a broad, melodic death-doom sound. And they both do it pretty well.

Lycanthia stays true to the concept of gothic doom, and introduces us to “The Harbinger” with an eerie organ lead, followed quickly by funeral-doom-inspired, slow paced guitar tones and extremely harsh vocals from Lee Tassaker. But they very quickly take things to another level with dueling, clean vocal leads from Vanessa Black and Megan Tassaker, as well as a grim, sorrow-enhancing violin part. It all just works brilliantly over the more traditional doom elements that form the foundations of this track. The song structure is absolutely perfect in how it uses these various elements to create a beautifully somber environment—from start to finish, they all feel cohesive. It’s a darkly textured, emotional ride that leaves you sitting in anticipation of what a new full-length might bring.

On “City in the Sea,” Chapel Hill’s Atten Ash may add a more conventional set of flourishes to the basic death-doom template, but they end up with no less compelling an end result. Recorded as part of the band’s self-released full-length, The Hourglass, back in 2012—now set for reissue on Hypnotic Dirge next month—this thing wraps you in its aura right from the get-go. It’s morose and crushingly heavy, yet also strangely natural-sounding. Plus, the melodic guitar lead that slithers in at about 1:30 might be the very definition of “earworm”—at least inasmuch as you’d apply it to this particular sound. Whether drawing you in with their heavier parts or their haunting, pace-changing clean passages, Atten Ash sounds completely and totally in their element. It’s a fantastic listen.

All in all, a great almost-13 minutes, and a job very well done from these two. We’ll be keeping our eyes on both going forward.

“Ein bier… bitte.”

Reviewed by: Corey

Feature from Metal Recusants

Thu, 14 May 2015 22:38:07 +0100

From: Metal Recusants
Published: January 22, 2015
Original Link

Atten Ash are a death-doom trio hailing from North Carolina, USA who will be releasing their debut full-length, The Hourglass, via Hypnotic Dirge Records on 19th February. The tracks were originally recorded and self-released in 2012 but this year Hypnotic Dirge will give it a proper – and rightully deserved one – release on a 4 panel digipak with a 12 page booklet. Additionally, today the band is releasing a 7” split (also via Hypnotic Dirge) with gothic act Lycanthia.

The track found on the split is “City In The Sea” and it is also the opening track of the upcoming full-length. I gotta tell you, Atten Ash know what they are doing and their doom-death is especially recommended to fans of classic Katatonia, October Tide, Slumber and Doom:vs. Maturity and experience is present on the song – and the rest of the album for that matter – and it will fill you with that (weirdly) comforting feeling of melancholy thanks to the guitars’ melodies and razorsharp solos but also the perfect mix of clean and growling vocals.