AVAST – Mother Culture
- Posted on 23-10-2018
"Mother Culture" by the Norwegian outfit Avast is nothing short of an aural assault on the senses. We are dealing with oppressive and bone-crushing (post) black metal here that reeks of existential despair, decay, and a postmodern sense of displacement. The album is both varied and dense while simultaneously having plenty of drive and ambition to it. The layered and textured soundscapes that this foul trio conjures up is riddled with nuances and subtle details, but there is a great flow to the songs and everything is there for a reason. The bleak atmosphere of the music is utterly compelling and the lyrics are thought-provoking and incredibly well-written, which is perhaps best exemplified by the pulsating darkness that is "Birth of Man" – a stunning track for sure.
Musically and stylistically, Avast offers a harsh and punishing mixture of experimental post-metal and, as I mentioned earlier on, black metal, which is probably why the term post-black metal is most appropriate here, but it still only gets us halfway there as Avast are clearly inspired by a myriad of different genres. There are even some hardcore and dark ambient influences to be detected here and there too.
Sharp riffs and melodies that will make your head spin, a hard-hitting rhythm section, and confident vocals that vibrate with passion are the order of the day here. In other words, Avast has arrived and will pulverize you. Be prepared!