Review: Achathras - A Darkness of the Ancient Past

Band: Achathras Album: A Darkness of the Ancient Past Genre: Melodic Black Metal Country: Unknown Label: Cult Never Dies Released: September 30, 2025

Introduction:

From the depths of the modern black metal underground emerges Achathras with their debut full-length debut album A Darkness of the Ancient Past. Steeped in mystery (there is little to no information about its members, origin, or location) and devoting themselves to the sound and execution of the genre’s second wave. In an era where many black metal bands drift toward post-metal influence or ironic detachment, Achathras stands defiantly apart. Their vision seems to be one of solemn reverence, a rekindling of the flames that first animated black metal’s cold heart in the early hours of 90s.

The Album:

A Darkness of the Ancient Past unfolds over roughly 40 minutes, weaving together 9 compositions that balance ferocity and melody. The album opens with The Weaving of Worlds, an ominous instrumental prelude that gives way to Anointed with Moonfire, erupting with blistering precision. Tremolo-picked riffs cutting through a blizzard of percussion while keyboards shimmer behind like distant auroras. The production is modern but not sterile. Achathras manage to preserve the rawness essential to black metal without burying the melodic details that define their sound. Each instrument breathes in its own space, yet the mix remains dense and immersive. The keyboards never overpower the guitars, and the drums are mixed with organic warmth. Think along the lines of if Emperor's In the Nightside Eclipse was reborn with 21st-century mastering.

Track Listing:

1. The Weaving of the Worlds 2. Anointed with Moonfire 3. A Cerement of Flame 4. Emanation of Chaos 5. Melancholy Wanderer 6. The Curse of Supremacy 7. The Despiser Triumphant 8. A Lamenting Presence 9. The Uttermost Cold

The album lives and breathes by its second-wave influence. Guitars carve out majestic, frostbitten melodies, keyboards swirl in a cosmic haze of melancholy and triumph. The drums alternate between blast-beaten fury and careful restraint, while the guitars shimmer with the kind of clarity rarely found in modern black metal. The vocals are cold and raw, evoking the icy grandeur of Ihsahn’s early days without directly mimicking it. Musically, one can hear echoes of the classic Scandinavian and Hellenic black metal traditions, yet Achathras never sound derivative. Their songwriting is deliberate and confident. However there are no surprises here, and its adherence to genre orthodoxy is both its strongest point and greatest limitation. But within that chosen framework, Achathras deliver with conviction and consistency. Ultimately Achathras came to do one thing. Establish themselves as keepers of the flame lit by bands like Emperor, and early Dimmu Borgir. Yet, while the fingerprints of those giants are unmistakable, there’s a sense of modern refinement here. What they do, they do extremely well.

Conclusion:

A Darkness of the Ancient Past is more than a tribute, it’s a resurrection. It’s a work that feels less like a debut and more like the reawakening of something long dormant. A slumbering beast in the shape of the second wave of Black Metal. Achathras captures the essence of the early 90s with sincerity and skill. It may not reinvent anything, but it polishes it until it gleams with black starlight. Fans of Emperor, Limbonic Art, early Dimmu Borgir and Old Man’s Child will surely enjoy this album.

BMZ grade: 7,5 out of 10

Support Achathras here: https://achathras.bandcamp.com/album/a-darkness-of-the-ancient-past

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