Antichrist
Akercocke · 2007
52 min · 12 tracks · black metal
A relentless fusion of black metal's ferocity and progressive death metal's intricacy, steeped in dark themes and complex arrangements.
Top tracks — play these first
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Summon the Antichrist — This track encapsulates the album's thematic core, blending aggressive riffs with haunting melodies that summon an atmosphere of impending doom.
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My Apterous Angel — The song showcases intricate rhythms and dynamic shifts, illustrating the band's ability to merge brutality with melodic sensitivity.
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Distant Fires Reflect in the Eyes of Satan — Its short duration is packed with intensity, serving as a stark interlude that heightens the album’s overall tension and narrative arc.
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Footsteps Resound in an Empty Chapel — This track features a poignant contrast between serene passages and explosive outbursts, reflecting the duality present throughout the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases ambitious compositions and a blend of styles, but its cohesion is somewhat uneven.
What we noticed
- The album features frequent tempo changes, shifting from blast beats to slower, more intricate passages within the same track.
- Vocals alternate between guttural growls and clean singing, often layered with harmonies that add complexity to the sound.
- Several tracks incorporate unconventional song structures, eschewing traditional verse-chorus formats in favor of extended instrumental sections.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long, immersive listening sessions
- wave-like pacing and builds
- dark, contemplative moods
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2007, 'Antichrist' is Akercocke's fourth studio album, following their critically acclaimed 'Choronzon' (2005). This album marks a period of artistic exploration for the band as they further integrate progressive elements into their established blackened death metal sound.
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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My Apterous Angel
The bridge introduces a shift where questions of faith emerge against a backdrop of chaotic instrumentation.
This moment starkly contrasts earlier verses and highlights the internal struggle within the song, adding depth to its exploration of belief.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Black Messiah 0:53
- 2 Summon the Antichrist 5:11
- 3 Axiom 5:11
- 4 The Promise 3:34
- 5 My Apterous Angel 6:49
- 6 Distant Fires Reflect in the Eyes of Satan 2:28
- 7 Man Without Faith or Trust 3:25
- 8 The Dark Inside 6:40
- 9 Footsteps Resound in an Empty Chapel 4:17
- 10 Epode 2:36
- 11 Chapel of Ghouls 5:08
- 12 Leprosy 6:20
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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