EP REVIEW: Silence – Agvirre

Black metal is in quite an interesting place in 2020. Whilst there are still legions of bands rigidly abiding by the sound of the genre’s infamous second wave, the last five years especially have seen a wave of bands push and develop the genre to new and exciting pastures. From DAWN RAY’D‘s anarchist driven triumphs to the boom of black gaze of bands like DEAFHEAVEN and MØL, black metal today is a rich ocean of diversity. Enter AGVIRRE who look to challenge the boundaries of the genre with their debut offering Silence.

Offering three tracks (well, two if you disregard the customary atmospheric introduction) of expansive post black metal, AGVIRRE weave an elaborate musical tapestry of black metal meets post rock and the result is a listening experience that can be both unnerving and equally comforting. Following the introductory number that is Radio Silence, AGVIRRE demonstrate their broad range of influences and musical styles through two expansive bodies of work; Muzzle and the Mask and Abandonment.

In Muzzle and the Mask‘s case, the track’s opening portion leans heavily towards the black metal element of their sound as thundering blastbeats, trademark riffing and howling screams combine in a vicious musical maelstrom whilst the presence of gorgeously executed strings help enforce the band’s lyrical journey that lies at the heart of this release; the struggles of mental health. It isn’t always a blistering black metal approach though, the chilling and discomforting clean vocals that arrive at the song’s halfway point inject a dose of melody into proceedings before evolving back into the dissonant black metal structure that dominated the first portion of the song. It’s a massive and dynamic wall of noise, and whilst it can be difficult to digest, it demonstrates the band’s unconventional approach in grand fashion.

Abandonment however, is much refined and focused and stands as the EP’s strongest offering. Here, the band’s juxtaposing musical characteristics hit the sweet spot as the wailing shrieks and dissonant riffing counter balance the soaring strings of the violin in perfect fashion. Indeed with this track, the violin serves as the secret weapon of AGVIRRE‘s arsenal as it’s subdued presence in their musical vortex helps pull your heartstrings as the exquisite performance really helps enforce the atmosphere the band are forging.

A broad and expansive offering that taps into a multitude of thoughts and feelings, Silence is a bold and confident debut offering from AGVIRRE. Showcasing a willingness to think outside the box, the sound this band have forged here is highly impressive and with some refinement moving forward, the trio could be onto something truly special.

Rating: 8/10

Silence is out now via Trepanation Recordings/Surviving Sounds.

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