Atman - _L'Assassi de Venus_
(Ishtadeva Vinyl Productions, 2007)
by: Quentin Kalis (5 out of 10)
Spanish black metal has never quite reached the heady heights of their kin in neighbouring France, and even its smaller Iberian neighbour Portugal has given rise to a greater number of bands familiar to metalheads. I'm sure if I were to be treated to a Spanish metal compilation I would find a number of bands that I would wish to investigate further; however, Atman wouldn't be one of them, not if this album is an accurate representation of their style.

Plodding their way through six tracks, Atman present little that is original or interesting. There are a few moments of interest: the vocals are among the more entertaining in the genre, an eerie lead that surfaces briefly on "Orgull de Sang I Raca" and the catchy "Quatre Flames per una Terra", whose catchy, almost hardcore rhythm is reminiscent of Impaled Nazarene before they became over-melodious. Plus, after a slew of releases with programmed drums and minimalist drumming by guitar orientated one-man bands, it is a pleasure to hear a real drummer within a blackened context.

When all this is placed against a background of lacklustre riffs and progressions however, one is left with a rather average entrant into black metal. Maybe their fifth attempt will be better. (Available on vinyl from Ishtadeva Vinyl Productions at the address below.)

Contact: vinyl@ishtadeva.com

(article published 15/8/2007)


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