I can't believe I completely glossed over this one. Axis of Light is a two-man British black metal band that released their first EP, By the Hands of the Consuming Fire, back in 2012. I listened to it back then, but I didn't pay much attention to it. I'm listening to it now, and I'm kicking myself over not including them in my top ten of 2012 list.
The music these guys play is truly something else, something that can't be adequately described by comparing them to other bands. The closest comparison I can make is with Anaal Nathrakh, especially in the vocal department, but these guys are still truly unique. The distortion is like a column of smoke and the instruments are the flames.
From what I've been able to gather, the instruments were recorded by a man named Origin. He handles them all perfectly. The drums boil with fury as they blast and strike and crush their way across landscapes scorched and scarred. The guitars skewer your skin like splinters of burning timber. Just like Anaal Nathrakh, although the guitars are extremely destructive, they also exhibit a great deal of melody and harmony. Just like the flames, they are deadly, but they are also hypnotically beautiful.
Most astonishing of all are the vocals. This is the reason why I compared Axis of Light to Anaal Nathrakh. The vocalist, Axiom, implements these screams that exhibit both rage and agony. If fire could speak, this is what it would sound like. They char your skin and suck the life from your lungs.
This EP is amazing. I haven't heard an expression of anger and hatred this frightening since listening to The Haunted House by Pyha. Go get this album today!
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