ALBUM REVIEW: Across The Aeons – Astralborne

Here we are already half way through 2023. So far the year has delivered a glut of great new music from both established and new artists spanning all manner of genres, and it’s been an especially bumper time for death metal and sub derivatives thereof. Leading the charge for some of the best current releases is Prosthetic Records, already raking up an impressive catalogue of albums, they show no signs of slowing the output. This brings us neatly to the latest offering from melodic death metal powerhouse ASTRALBORNE. Having already captured the interests of many with their 2020 debut Eternity’s End, their follow-up Across The Aeons picks up where its predecessor left off. However, one will find no hint of rehashed ideas or clumsy attempts to follow previous formulas. Across The Aeons is the sort of album that cements a band as a heavyweight of their chosen genre, locking in all the aspects that first ignited the critical acclaim, then taking everything one step further in both a creative and production sense. ASTRALBORNE have brought forth a titan of an album.

Those familiar with the debut record and the band’s wider sound will know that ASTRALBORNE like to build an atmospheric soundscape into their classic melodic death metal style. Across The Aeons follows this vein and with the opener Exordium they’ve crafted an intoxicating one-minute scene setter that employs chiming acoustic guitars to generate a swirling melody. The calming effect of the introduction is expertly swept aside however by the full force death metal aggression of lead single War Vessel. Blast beats, chugging guitars and guttural vocals enable the sonic journey to truly begin and ASTRALBORNE charge out of the blocks with all of the technical ability and songcraft that made their earlier work so critically acclaimed. War Vessel offers a polished sound and slick compositional layers to produce a heavyweight attack. The chorus lines retain the power of death metal but are fused with anthemic melodies, and the two components link perfectly to give a ferocious yet catchy track that is an ideal servant as lead single.

The anthemic melodic edge is maintained throughout the album. Nocturneous has intricate guitar work and memorable vocal lines soaring in the mix, illuminating the songwriting growth of the band. This is also true of Promethean Fire and the towering The Pillars Of Creation, the latter being a shining beacon amongst gems. If for whatever reason, the remaining tracks were not much to write home about, this track alone would make the whole album worthwhile. It has every component of melodic death metal executed to a high standard. Delicate intricacies are blended seamlessly with unrelenting brutality delivering a track that demands attention and for anyone on the fence about the stylistic approach of ASTRALBORNE to have any misgivings blown away.

There’s something to be said for the grandiose scale of the compositions; ASTRALBORNE have clearly chosen to expand on those elements that can be found in Eternity’s End. However, by retaining the hard-hitting hammer blows of death metal, they’ve avoided disappearing into the realm of the overblown. Track lengths are contained to ensure the delivery of each track is to the point. True, the title track is grander than the others, but the nine and half minutes at no point feel like a slog. The writing and structure is such that the track doesn’t get bogged down; it encapsulates many of the elements from the surrounding tracks while neatly pulling the thematic elements of the album together.

Admittedly, the cosmic, philosophical and fantasy themes expressed within the lyrical songwriting could put some off, with the criticism being that it is difficult to pull off such references in a punchy death metal attack without being pretentious. This is certainly true in some circumstances; many bands draw influences from these points and end up disappearing into a cloud of waffle.  Fortunately, ASTRALBORNE have nailed these conceptual elements and tied them together without anything being lost or becoming pompous. While the overall orchestration matches the lyrics in delivery, the pummelling assault of the rhythms and thickly layered textural dynamics retain the heart of death metal. Across The Aeons is both engaging and brutal and will leave many wanting more as well as lining ASTRALBORNE up for album of the year lists in many quarters.

Rating: 9/10

Across The Aeons is set for release on July 28th via Prosthetic Records.

Like ASTRALBORNE on Facebook.