Austria’s extreme metal underground has a habit of producing some of the fiercest, most hostile music imaginable, and ARSGOATIA are no exception. With „Hiding Amongst Humans„, ARSGOATIA packs thirty-two minutes of ferocious aggression and unnerving atmosphere, weaving together razor-edged Black Metal riffs and lurking, doom-laden passages that threaten to crush you under their grim weight.
The suffocating starts with „Tongues Orifice Fire,” which erupts into a frenzy of blast beats and corrosive icy riffs from the very outset. While these initial moments scorch the earth with that quintessential second-wave fury, ARSGOATIA’s willingness to slow the tempo down and infuse eerie melodies provides a welcome sense of depth. It’s not merely aggression for aggression’s sake—there’s a hidden tension simmering just beneath the surface that refuses to let you catch your breath.
Throughout the album, the band cleverly alternates between blunt-force battery and creeping, methodical dread. “Slay Burn Immolate” doubles down on unrestrained brutality, hammering away with punishing speed, while slower dirges like “When Heresy Repeats Itself” cast a suffocating blanket of malignant atmosphere. The latter spans minutes of brooding riffs and ominous basslines, culminating in a suffocating aura that never releases its icy grip. It’s this interplay between savage, breakneck tempos and sepulchral, mid-paced sections that ensures „Hiding Amongst Humans“ remains gripping from start to finish.
A critical element tying everything together is the drumming, which feels like a cathartic onslaught against all things sacred. Each snare hit and kick drum seems to drip with a spiteful hunger, anchoring the guitar and bass in an unholy synergy that exudes pure disdain for the status quo. This profound bitterness is equally evident in the vocal performance which channels everything from rabid, throat-shredding screams to distorted, whispered phrases that swirl through the background like ghastly apparitions. It’s unapologetically ruthless and never once loses its morbid edge.
Yet beyond the relentless punishment, ARSGOATIA have a knack for weaving spectral melodies into their sonic tapestry. These moments of bleak reprieve surface during tracks like “Tyrant of All Men,” where the abrasive onslaught momentarily recedes, allowing haunting motifs to seep in. These subtle injections of atmosphere hint at the band’s willingness to explore uncharted territory within their blackened framework, demonstrating an ambition that separates them from standard-issue blasts of monotony.
While it’s true that the record’s unrelenting pace can sometimes make the tracks blur together, it also enhances the sense of impending doom that defines „Hiding Amongst Humans„. Rather than offering you a leisurely tour of their hellish soundscape, ARSGOATIA opts for a relentless barrage that mirrors the hopelessness of a crumbling world. It’s vicious, cruel, and unrepentant—just as Black Metal should be.
In the end, „Hiding Amongst Humans“ feels like a venomous celebration of our collective downfall. The sheer nastiness of the songwriting, paired with its haunting undercurrents, makes for a formidable debut that won’t easily release its hold on the psyche. If you’re craving a Black Metal album that seethes with malice yet still leaves room for ominous, slow-burn passages, look no further. ARSGOATIA have delivered an offering that’s sure to satisfy even the most jaded connoisseurs of darkness.
Label: Ván Records / 2023