Autarkh – Emergent
Autarkh – Emergent
Season Of Mist
Release Date: 10/11/23
Running Time: 45:37
Review by Oli Gonzalez
7.5/10
Innovate. A verb meaning “to make changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas, or products”. Dutch extreme metal musician Michel Nienhuis is no stranger to innovation. He and other musicians were part of successful Dutch extreme metal band Dodecahedron, with a sound so unique that it became the subject for academic research and a subsequent journal article published! How many bands can say that? Sadly though, all great things must come to an end. From the ashes of this band, came Autarkh. Michel wanted to continue utilising the extreme metal elements whilst combining them with more experimental electronic elements, thus creating something unique within the industry! This unique sound led the band to be signed by Seasons Of Mist records, and securing festival appearances across Europe including the very prestigious Hellfest. Now, the band are on the eve of their latest full-length release ‘Emergent’.
I’ll be honest. This wasn’t quite to my taste aesthetically. However, it really is easy to remain objective and to appreciate this record (and the band as a whole) for what it is! There’s an undeniable industrial and electronic spine running through the band’s sound. Whereas their older material was seemingly more on the raw and harsh side, Emergent appears to be more refined and better produced. There seems to be a more ambient and melodic quality too, especially in the opening track Open Focus (which I’ll talk about more later). Compositionally however, I do feel as though the ideas in some songs do take a little too long to develop, so you could say the pacing is off slightly.
As cliché as it sounds, Autarkh is like nothing I’ve ever heard before! They set out on a mission to combine extreme metal and electronic elements. Mission accomplished I’d say. Try to imagine Fear Factory, but more retrograde in the production, played with blast beats, heavier vocals, and other more traditional death metal components. Interestingly, I noted how the band don’t have a traditional drummer in their lineup. Instead, they use electronic / programmed drums. I’ve seen many bands at local shows using drum machines as a short term solution for no drummer, and to be honest it never looks right. However, it’s different for Autarkh. Definitely a permanent and long term solution and it suits their sound. I had to check out one of their live videos to see if this was actually true. Seeing some fan footage from Hellfest and their live stream on Roadburn confirmed this unique lineup. More importantly though, their live show looks phenomenal. Certainly something I’d like to see in the flesh.
‘Open Focus’ is by far my favourite song on the album! This is much more stripped-down than other tracks. More ambient. More atmospheric. Much slower too. The vocals are the highlight for me though. A cleaner style is prominent but one that still carries an unparalleled sense of raw emotion and angst. It retains a melodic quality that stands as the principal hook in this song for me.
There’s many bands who come along and promise to make changes to something established, or to innovate. Some fail. Some stick to tried and tested methods. After all, if the wheel ain’t broke, why fix it? Others like Autarkh come along and smash the wheel completely and create something drastically different! Autarkh are here to play by their own rules and to create a sound seldom heard in the music industry. This will be one of the more unique acts you’ll get your ears on.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Open Focus
02. Strife
03. Duhkha
04. Trek
05. Refocus
06. Aperture
07. Eye Of Horus
08. Countless Kaleidoscopes
09. Ka
LINE-UP:
Michel Nienhuis – Vocals & Guitars
David Luiten – Vocals & Guitars
Desmond Kuijk – Bass
Tijnn Verbruggen – Synths & Beats
LINKS:
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