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Nechochwen: Azimuths to the Otherworld
 Nechochwen... the name seemed familiar, so I guess I've run across this band at some point, even though Azimuths to the Otherworld is their debut.
Although this is their first release, it feels as if they have been around for some time, and I can only hope they will have a long and fruitful career. Yes, Nechochwen is that good! Not too often does a band take inspiration from Native American Indian themes and use them in black metal, but it does really make sense. In fact, this release is much more a folk album with black metal elements than the usual other way around. It ends up as being a very pleasant way to combine those genres. The harsh vocals, crunchy guitar work and fast paces are and far in between. The vocals are also taking various shapes such as: chant, whispers and spoken words. The truth here is that Azimuths to the Otherworld is mostly instrumental work; another very positive point in my book. Now to top it all off, and this is where it really gets enjoyable, acoustic and classical guitars are the main instruments from beginning to end. Needless to say that I am a very happy camper and this album has been playing many times. Delicate arpeggios and thrilling leads/solos are only proofs of crafty musicianship. I can only rejoice and be inspired by hearing those exquisite organic tonalities. No fillings, waste of time or even a slightly bad composition on this disc. To point out just a few highlights: "At Night May I Roam", "Red Ocher", "Noameatha" and "Four Effigies".
Azimuths to the Otherworld will definitely figure amongst my list of top albums this year. Highly recommend!
Track listing:
1 – Allumhammochewn: The Crossing
2 – At Night May I Roam
3 – Gissis Mikana
4 – Red Ocher
5 – The Eyes of the Mesingw
6 – Charnel House
7 - Graves of Grandeur
8 – Confluence
9 – Noameatha, You Are the Ghost in the Water
10 – The Forgotten Death Ritual
11 – Hunting Amongst the Stars
12 – Four Effigies a. The Turtle Effigy b. The Adena Pipe c. Amanita Mushroom Wand d. Weeping Eye
13 – Azimuths to the Otherworld
14 – Graves of Grandeur (reprise)
Added: April 4th 2010
Reviewer: Denis Brunelle
Score:  
Related Link: Bindrune Recordings
Hits: 3308
Language: english
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Nechochwen: Azimuths to the Otherworld
Posted by Jon Neudorf, SoT Staff Writer on 2010-04-05 00:26:05
My Score:
Nechochwen is an American duo from West Virginia comprising of Aaron Carey and another musician who remains a mystery. Azimuths to the Otherworld is their first release and an excellent one it is. Inspired by the Hopewell and Adena peoples, Nechochwen has created an album of unbridled emotion and beauty, combining classical, folk, Native American, doom and black metal elements, making for a riveting listen.
Much of the album consists of classical and folk inspired acoustic guitar, a definite strength of the band. I have not heard acoustic instrumentation this well executed in a very long time. Many other acoustic instruments are used to give this album a mournful quality that meshes well with the album's theme. Nechochwen's exploration of Native American heritage is perhaps best summed up by the following:
"Modern man, the world eater, respects no space and no thing green or furred as sacred. The march of the machines has entered his blood." – Loren Eiseley, Anthropologist
Just as the above words are unquestionable true - a general feeling of wistful mournfulness unfolds as one listens and while the acoustic beauty found within is undeniable, many of these songs are laced with doom laden riffs and intense black metal meanderings that only adds to the overall somberness of the music. Although much of the album is instrumental, there are vocals here - a mixture of clean and harsher styles, in perfect balance with the other.
Highlights include the classically inspired acoustic guitar of "Graves of Grandeur" and the multipart "Four Effigies" where acoustic guitar bliss eventually clashes with the slow churn of intense doomy riffage. For a nice change of pace check out the short "The Forgotten Death Ritual", featuring only flute or the intriguing "Confluence" where whispered vocals, intense riffs and mellower sections of fragile beauty add to the mysticism this music conveys.
This is a very good album, and while it is not the heaviest metal I have heard it is perhaps the prettiest. Those of you not into doom might want to check this out for the lavish acoustic instrumentation. For those interested in metal as presented by Opeth and related bands, Azimuths to the Otherworld comes highly recommended.
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