Devouring Star – Antihedron (Dark Descent Records. 2017).

Devouring Star – Antihedron (Dark Descent Records. 2017).

The intro for the first song, Breath of the Void, sets the tone for this EP, with an eerie atmosphere that conjures up images of being torn apart by the forces of entropy. Afterwards we dive into a mid-paced monster, with bass drum rolling menacingly beneath the surface of the black waves of Chaos. It is intoxicating and alluring, wherein one can feel oneself melt away into nothingness and the Void. The second song, Star Below, is again a more mid-paced number that flows effortlessly from Breath of the Void, in part thanks to the outro in the first (which sounds like winds howling in subterranean tunnels combined with some bass). It is hypnotic and feels such like a perfect continuation of the first that at points it may seem odd to think that there is a split between the two. This is not necessarily a fault, as it shows how well this EP flows. It feels at points like it may be more a continuous whole, a droning slab of Black Metal, luring one into the depths of the Abyss. Indeed, this atmosphere of cosmic disintegration and decay permeates the entire EP. When listening to this, you can easily picture yourself breathing in the heavy fumes of incense in a ritualistic ecstasy, as the incantations in an obscure, abyssic temple are chanted and the earth heaves below and dissolves into oblivion. This is especially so when the tempo picks up in Star Below, and it feels as if one is being disintegrated into nothingness. The production of this EP is commanding, with instruments being well balanced and commanding. The use of intros and outros is done expertly and helps to create a powerful piece of Black Metal.

8/10.