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Blog Categories Review Acherontia Styx - Post Death - Reviewed by POWERMETAL!

Acherontia Styx - Post Death - Reviewed by POWERMETAL! Tuesday February 28 2023, 3:11 PM

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Acherontia Styx - Post Death - Reviewed by POWERMETAL ! Check it out here at this link: https://www.powermetal.de/review/review-Acherontia_Styx/Post_Death,39993.html

Good Modern Metal in good moments, superfluous in bad ones...

As a fan of the melodic death steel I'm kind of used to disappointment by now, because far too often newcomers in this sector throw names like IN FLAMES or DARK TRANQUILITY into the ring as references, even if all too often modern Metalcore or even classic Death Metal is behind them hidden with few melodies. But of course I don't throw in the towel and I continue to give newcomers and bands I've never heard of before a chance, which is why I had to grab the new EP "Post Death" by Britons ACHERONTIA STYX, which follows the long-running album "Shadow & Flame". from 2020 and the one year older EP "Your Possible Pasts" is the third official release of the quartet, which was founded in 2007.

And of course, with ARCH ENEMY and LAMB OF GOD, two big names are thrown into the ring as role models and the term "Melodic Death Metal" is thrown into the ring, whereby the mention of Chris Adler and Co. increases my hopes for four tracks in the style of Gothenburg Sounds disappear into thin air again. And so the opener 'Cloud Of War' stomps out of the speakers with melodic riffs and a strong core list with a clear American influence, even if at least in the chorus a few fine guitar leads build the bridge to Michael Amott and the archenemies from Sweden. Although my euphoria is slowed down directly by the somewhat one-dimensional growls and shouts and the terribly clinking cymbal sound, the opening number is okay and at least gives me hope.

Hardly any number on "Post Death" can really excite me. 'Shame', for example, almost completely dispenses with melody lines and rolls over the listener as an unspectacular death steamroller, while 'Shards Of Sanity' represents a rather failed experiment in a cross between LAMB OF GOD and FEAR FACTORY, whereby the electronic gimmicks in particular are plentiful seem out of place. At least 'Goddess Of Sin' closes the record with some strong riffs again and overall it sounds like ARCH ENEMY, LAMB OF GOD and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH have been thrown into a saucepan, stirred vigorously and the great melodic hooks by Ivan Moody removed.

You can already hear it, even if "Post Death" has some strong moments, especially in the first and last track, the EP as a whole can't really tear me off my stool. But if you have an open ear for American-style modern metal, then it might be worth trying it out, although I would recommend 'Goddess Of Sin' as a tip and I'd recommend picking out the song cherries rather than buying the complete short groove. - POWERMETAL

Release Date: 13/1/23

FFO: Arch Enemy, Lamb Of God, Fear Factory

Location: Tyne & Wear, England

Short Bio: Acherontia Styx are four piece melodic death metal band from England, Acherontia Styx draw influence from mid 90s death and black Metal, groove and shred Metal, and fuse it with classical elements and broader influences. On January 13th 2023, they release their third collection of works Post Death. Available on all streaming services, and directly at dwarrowdelfrecords.bandcamp.com

2020s “Shadow And Flame" album met with rave reviews, being heralded as an innovative shift into progressive forms of death metal.

2023s Post Death shifts violently from traditional death and black metal arrangements, into groove based shred and psychedelic synth patterns, with a common focus on emotional release and dramatic structures.

Follow the band on Spotify and add them to your playlists!