August Moon - Something Eldritch and Macabre

Angry Metal Guy 60

Written By: Nameless_N00b_87

As Listurnalia hits these hallowed halls with the year-end release doldrums in full swing, scraping the pit to unearth one last juicy morsel before the holidays can be a fool’s errand. Luckily, I didn’t have to scrape much as August Moon’s debut Something Eldritch and Macabre was gifted to me from the bone pile. Conceived at the epicenter of Finland’s renowned 90’s death metal scene as a side project and think tank of avant-garde ideas not suitable for their main band, As Serenity Fades, August Moon are a testament to patience. After a brief one-year run and the release of two demos, the group disbanded in 1994 before re-emerging in 2014 to continue crafting their debut. Though it took another decade to materialize, their initial four-song EP finally saw the light of day at the start of the year. Impressed, Personal Records took notice and promptly commissioned five more tracks within twelve months. Now finally, through the clouds of decade-long breaks, Something Eldritch and Macabre arrives.

Rooted in the Scandinavian melodeath scene of olde, one might expect August Moon to be a mere revival of early Sentenced or Amorphis. Yet, there is more lurking in the shadows than meets the eye. August Moon blend black, thrash, and power metal with hints of 70’s rock, and even flashes of 80’s synth (“Journey to Other-Worldly Realms and Beyond”), to craft appealing, dramatic compositions that are both engaging and gratifying. Amongst Something Eldritch and Macabre’s core elements are swarming tremolos, Gothenburg harmonies, Hammond-style organ refrains, thrashy Omnium Gatherum-esque melodic hooks, proto-metal grooves, and power metal panache filtered through raw and unrefined production. Underpinned by Tom Hendriksson’s rock syncopations and boosted by great songwriting, Peter Viherkanto’s fiery shredding works in lockstep with Mikko Sorja’s sharp bass and demonic growls to render August Moon’s genre-bending arrangements.

Something Eldritch And Macabre by AUGUST MOON

Something Eldritch and Macabre’s success thrives on dynamic songwriting that balances ambition with restraint. Viherkanto’s creative riff craft frames gripping transitions, unexpected shifts, synth and organ overtures, and triumphant crescendos which balance tension and release. Soaring organ lines following heavy blasts in “Constellations Dislodged from the Night Sky” and driving thrash riffs amidst relentless tremolo in “As Cataclysms Swept Across the Cities,” create irresistible headbanging moments that highlight Something Eldritch and Macabre’s strength. Elsewhere, the familiar Gothenburg harmonies embedded within the bridges of “Exitus” or “Summoning of the Feathered Serpent” act to counterbalance the thrash-heavy staccato marches, menacing slides, and frequent stops and starts that resurface throughout the record’s nine tracks. Hendriksson’s measured strikes give Viherkanto’s fretwork space to flourish, employing stylish and inspired rock-centric syncopations with periodic blasts, gallops, and modest tom patterns that enhance August Moon’s tactful songwriting with a selective hand. Though precarious a line it may be to walk, August Moon avoids the pitfall of going for broke and risking Something Eldritch and Macabre becoming a haphazard mess.

But Something Eldritch and Macabre’s pacing falters early and stumbles late. Opener “In the Gallery of All Things Macabre,” and penultimate track “Something Eldritch Up in the Heavens Soon to Wreak Havoc Down on Earth” feel like underwhelming and ordinary bookends to an otherwise great album full of artistic vigor, while closer “The Vulture Stone (Pillar 43 to Commemorate the Apocalypse)” is an apathetic finale. Additionally, Sorja’s growls are jarring at times and struggle to find their place within a treble-heavy mix that lacks low-end heft. Exacerbated by inconsistencies with volume, the raw production would benefit from a more balanced mix to settle Sorja’s growls and give punch to Hendriksson’s kick. Nevertheless, August Moon maintains my interest thanks to the material’s powerful hooks coupled with its concise 39-minute runtime.

Something Eldritch and Macabre is a pleasant surprise and a strong way to close out the year. While production issues and a few weaker tracks evidence that some fine-tuning remains, August Moon’s songwriting and unique blend of aggression and melody give me everything I want in a melodeath record. August Moon has proven that their decades-long journey has been worth it, and this first offering has only whetted my appetite for more.

Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Personal Records
Websites: Too Kvlt for da Webz
Releases Worldwide: December 13th, 2024

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