Age of Ascendancy is the latest offering of Sydney based Eastern Black metal fusion band Tamerlan Empire; and what an epic release it is. Staying true to their black metal influences, Age of Ascendancy utilize the traditional lo-fi elements of black metal in their guitars and drums, but somehow make this work in a hi-fi mix that blend the two ineffective way. Yassa’s vocals are probably the most authentic black metal feel for the entire album as every other element has been developed to hold both western and eastern feel.
What saves this album from being yet another black metal offering is its variety.
Traditional eastern melodies and the presence of acoustic elements as well as eastern instruments are expertly woven into blast beats and shrieking vocals.
The most impressive part of this album is how there is little contrast between the melodies and the droning blast beats; something that their first offering, Isfahan’s Fall Demo was yet to master. If the intention was to meld black metal’s ferocious and unsettling sound with an eastern flavouring, then Tamerlan Empire has completely nailed the brief. You need to check this out, and you need to do it now.
Tamerlan Empire: Facebook
Release Year: 2018
Label: Metal Hell Records
Category: Album
Country: Australia
Reviewed by Liam Frost-Camilleri
