![atavistic passage – demonstration one [demo]](https://www.vm-underground.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Atavistic-Passage-–-Demonstration-One-Demo-cover.jpg "Atavistic Passage – Demonstration One [Demo]")
Info
- Band(s): Atavistic Passage
- Label(s): Manifest of Hate Creations
- Release Format(s): Cassette, Demo
- Release Year: 2024
- Review Date: May 3, 2025
- Author(s): FelixS
Introducing a new band with zero info is not the easiest task. Other than that this anonymous entity hails from somewhere in the North West of England and released its debut demo, aptly titled ‘Demonstration One’, in autumn 2024 there’s basically nothing else to tell about Atavistic Passage. So, instead of focusing on non-existent information we should let the music do the talking…
On this rather short first feat, clocking well under 15 minutes, the band presents a well-balanced and well-executed amalgam between soothing Dark Ambient/Dungeon Synth and Raw Black Metal that is borderline Lo-Fi. After an alluring intro the real deal starts off with its harsh sounding Black Metal that finds it somewhat in the middle between the tried and tested formula of Portuguese Lo-Fi Black (Candelabrum/Black Cilice) and a much slower Sanguine Relic or even Unholy Vampyric Slaughter Sect. The latter mainly for the creativity, but the others mostly because of the ragged way of song crafting. The brilliance of the song writing unfolds already in the first real song (‘Ritual II’) which has a very classic Heavy Metal underpinning. Both in the way the song’s tension is built as well as the memorable melody the band’s strong sense for song writing shines through.
Yet, another element of surprise, if you’d like to go with such words, is the fluent and natural way of weaving those Dark Ambient/Dungeon Synth characteristics into the music. It doesn’t merely function as intro and outro, but it is an important and integral part of the music, offering a dreamy and eerie atmosphere. It goes impressively well with the predominantly slow and frayed sounding riffs. As a whole the music sounds rather doomy therefor would definitely also appeal to fans of the harsher and gloomier and moodier work of bands like Xasthur, Striborg, Krohm or I Shalt Become.
Atavistic Passage
- Country: United Kingdom
- Style: Black Metal, Ambient
- Links: Bandcamp
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Manifest of Hate Creations
- Country: Germany
- Style: Black Metal, Ambient
- Links: Homepage, Facebook
