AN NCS PREMIERE: ACHATHRAS — “EMANATION OF CHAOS”

Sep 082025

(written by Islander)

Achathras is the name of a black metal band who surfaced for the first time earlier this year with two singles released in May and August. Cult Never Dies, the label that will release their forthcoming debut album, describes the Achathras three-person lineup as one that “features anonymous musicians from acclaimed and long-running black metal acts.”

And indeed, we don’t know who they are or where they’re located. They apparently want their music to speak entirely for itself, as an expression of their homage to the European black metal scene of the late ’90s. Which is just fine, because the music speaks in ways that really seize attention — as you’ll learn when you hear the band’s third single that we’re premiering today.

The name of this new single is “Emanation of Chaos“. Its opening phase is simply spectacular. It combines fiery harmonized riffing that swirls and soars, drumming that booms like boulders or cracks like gunfire, thunderous bass strings, and a long, strangled scream. The whirring guitars are glorious and elevating, the rhythm section vibrantly pulse-pounding, the vocals abusively ugly. It really does merit the term “epic” — and that’s only the first 52 seconds.

From there the band quickly switch to a riff that feverishly throbs and rampantly blares, backed by neck-cracking beats and thrilling fills. And then, as the vocals come in full-force, the music cascades in vast melodic waves of panoramic brilliance. Still epic, but now almost pastoral and nearing the celestial, like wondrous visions of another world (notwithstanding the contrasting monstrosity of demonic screams and guttural roars).

But there’s still more to come, as the song brings in elegantly rippling piano keys in the midst of melodic cascades that are dark and sorrowful, as well as bursts of thrusting energy and flowing manifestations of mournful grandeur, like vast tides of tears. Through it all the rhythm section provide a vivid and visceral counterweight to those tidal forces high above. Through it all the vocals sound like a war between hellish beasts (thus honoring one of “golden age” black metal’s biggest middle fingers to the rest of the metal and non-metal musical world).

Further below you’ll be able to listen to the band’s two previous singles, “Anointed With Moonfire” and “The Despiser Triumphant“. I won’t try to verbally map them in as much detail as I just did for “Emanation of Chaos“. Both of them also create stirring amalgams of emotionally moving melody on a symphonic scale, feverishly pulsating riffage, electrifying drum-and-bass performances, and furiously malicious vocals — combinations of classically elegant grandeur, heart-punching and head-rattling rhythmic intensity, and nightmarish vocal horror.

All three of these singles, and more songs, will be included on the band’s debut album A Darkness of the Ancient Past, which is available for pre-order now from Cult Never Dies (see the links below). The label states of the album as a whole that “the songwriting recalls acts such as early Gehenna, Odium, Emperor, Hecate Enthroned, Obtained Enslavement, Taake, Old Man’s Child, Ancient, Dimmu Borgir, Abigor, Covenant, Forefather and Mork Gryning.”