Stargazer Scholar
The last thing we need is to add another branch to the ever-spreading tree of Heavy Metal subgenres. Yet I can’t help but think that many bands emerging over the last decade would fall neatly under the umbrella of Cathartic Black Metal. Something must have shifted in our perception of the world, and instead of the ever-venomous, devilish malice of the cold second wave, we arrived at a different kind of darkness. Bands like Mephorash, Mgła, or Schammasch spearheaded a more comprehensive approach to Black Metal, blending the cosmic and the personal in one existential cauldron. These bands may be different in their aesthetic direction and the subject matter of their lyrics, but the underlying urgency of their craft and the strength of emotions they evoke in the listener somehow make them a part of a movement.
Such are the waters that the Polish/Italian combo Amalekim is trying to navigate, such is the pantheon. Yet even in this illustrious company, the band has earned the right to stand tall and proud. After its sophomore record caught my fancy back in 2023, I was eagerly anticipating a new chapter, which arrived in the mysterious sonic form of Shir Hashirim.
Amalekim‘s approach to songwriting is a bit more song-oriented than the free-form adventures of some of its peers. The cathartic core of the music coexists with a melodic foundation that, to my ears, is almost Swedish in nature. Think the most blackened moments of Necrophobic or Sacramentum. This marriage of deep emotion and vigorous presentation makes the band both artistic and accessible.
Beginning with a deceptively doomy chant, the record wastes no time in switching from its measured pacing to an immersive blast-beat. What ensues is a triumphant and uneasy liturgy of an unfolding apocalypse, a cozy yet universal maelstrom of majestic emotion, a biblical, towering edifice of engulfing gloom. Orchestral and polyphonic, alternating between vaguely dissonant chords and beautiful elegiac melodies, the record laments and rages throughout its concise runtime of 38 minutes.
Despite its overall solemnity, Shir Hashirim is very rich in hooks and memorable moments. The assertive and dramatic chorus of “Chant IV” and its contemplative mid-section, the cosmic wails of guitar on “Chant V” and the gloriously, well, cathartic conclusion are doomed to haunt your memory. The musicians did their best to equip each individual track with a hook and a salient feature of its own. However, some of these devices are reused, and there’s a certain consistency to the album’s emotional state, which requires repeated listens to really appreciate the nuance. I think that the band could improve even further by trying to explore larger forms, which would give them more room to breathe without resorting to minor repetitions or anticlimactic fade-outs.
Hypnotic tremolo riffs and graceful transitions provide riveting dynamics, and the organic production makes the record sound monolithic without being overwhelming. There’s a certain rainy freshness to the sound of Shir Hashirim that will make you revisit it repeatedly. My only gripe is that having the mood-setting keyboards a bit higher in the mix would have been welcome on a few tracks, but outside of that the technical side of the album definitely lives up to its biblical ambition and gorgeously unsettling cover painting.
The more we listen to a genre the harder it gets to surprise us. The only way a band can survive in this competitive environment is by transforming familiar elements into something unique and memorable, and Amalekim definitely has the recipe. Shir Hashirim is a worthy addition to a short but stellar discography and a recommended listen to any fan of what I called Cathartic Black Metal.
Label: Avantgarde Music
Release date: 2 May, 2025
Website: https://www.facebook.com/Amalekim
Country: Poland/Italy
Score: a mystical and unholy 3.8/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 