Lykathea Aflame
Elvenefris

THE REVIEW

Deicide? Off the shore! Necrophagist? No way. Nile? Almost, but we're still far off.

These "Lykathea Aflame", a band consisting of four poor Czech guys - from the republic, not the eye - who, mistreated by critics, audiences, and everything else, only survived one year, then reformed a year later - a few months ago - with a new name (Lykathé) and new lineup.

This CD is a punch right in the chest, a CD that combines that brutal death of Nile's school with some unorthodox themes. The central theme is the spiritual journey, the journey of formation, the search for spiritual well-being. The destination is a place, Lykathea, and the flame that burns it is 'Elvenefris', a sort of symbolic image of the desire for fulfillment transfigured in the growth of the individual. The music, as I said, originates from the Nile-type brutal death, enriched however with semi-ambient inserts, a very "oriental" taste - it very much recalls, in some passages, Indian religious music - and also a certain love for the progressive.
The lyrics, centered on the themes mentioned above, are sung in a voice that at times is clean, echoing, open, and airy, only to then emerge into one of the most guttural and deep growls - to define it brutal would be limiting - I've ever had the chance to hear. It's a strange album, a different, particular album. It certainly deserved a bit more attention, amidst a metal market now inflated and full of the usual old names playing it safe and the new copycat groups.

Valuing those few bands that still deserve it is a duty of those who care about their music.