Author Archives: Ignacio De Vincenzi

Xythlia, Zombieshark!, Daggers, and Frank Macchia & Brock Avery

by Ignacio De Vincenzi

Xythlia – Immortality through Quantum Suicide (I, Voidhanger)

Another great addition to the I, Voidhanger catalogue, the upcoming album from one-man band Xythlia is a twenty-four-minute conceptual journey of experimental technical deathgrind held by tight songwriting and frantic lyrics that go along with the sheer insanity of its sound. Fans of extreme metal music, definitely check this one out!

Zombieshark! – I Will Destroy You, Myself, and Everything I’ve Ever Loved

Do you miss the old days when cybergrind and nintendocore were blooming on pages like Myspace? Philadelphia’s Zombieshark! has you covered; if you don’t, give them a chance anyway! … Read more

Abraham – Look, Here Comes the Dark!, an Analysis Of

by Ignacio De Vincenzi

The Music

The Words

“Mankind’s worst enemy is itself” is a phrase that has been, is, and will be used for ages and ages to come. Since the dawn of our era, we’ve been using our gifted abilities for both good and evil purposes, and music has brought up this topic in a lot of songs and albums. However few bands dare to venture forth as Swiss post-metal band Abraham has done with their latest album Look, Here Comes the Dark!

With a concept double album about the end of times, the band explores the evolution of this post-apocalyptic setting … Read more

Jute Gyte and Spectral Lore – Helian

by Ignacio De Vincenzi

The Music

The Thoughts

The ruin of a generation is shattering.
In this hour, the eyes of the one who watches fill
With the gold of his stars.

Georg Trakl was one of the pioneers of expressionism in its poetry form, an art movement which started in the early 20th century with the purpose of using powerful emotions and moods to express one’s view of the world. “Helian” was, according to him, his most precious and painful poem ever written; dealing with death, decadence, existential crisis and man’s struggle with religion. With this topic on the table, avant-garde masterminds Ayloss … Read more

An Art as Catharsis Special: Opium Eater, Raven, Seims & Slowly Building Weapons

by Ignacio De Vincenzi

Australia has become one of my favourite places in the world to look out for new and exciting bands. From alien overlords such as Portal to fresh faces of progressive metal like Caligula’s Horse, there is a pallet of sounds to be found on the Lucky Country. However, there is a special label that has gained recognition for finding and delivering some of the most unique albums I’ve heard in recent years: Art as Catharsis.

Psychedelic drone music with eastern influences (Ḥashshāshīn), John Zorn worship jazzgrind (Kurushimi (苦しみ)) or experimental hardcore madness (Tired Minds), Art as Catharsis has … Read more

Ghost Bath – Starmourner

by Ignacio De Vincenzi


Ecstasy. Joy. Paradise. Cosmos. “A surrealistic journey through the heavens drenched in sorrow.” That’s how American blackgaze band Ghost Bath describes Starmourner, a direct sequel to a trilogy which started with their 2015 release Moonlover, a forty-two minute exploration on humanity’s melancholy and depression; it managed to be one of my favorite releases of that year due to the beauty encased within its dark sound. Two years later and signed to Nuclear Blast, one of metal’s biggest labels, Ghost Bath returns with the aforementioned Starmourner, their longest and most ambitious album to date, changing their topics to deliver … Read more