Emerald Spell

After fiery and feisty debut album "Ataxian Reign" that came out in early 2024, South Korean melodic BM act Aefen Styrra returns with all guns blazing again in new EP, "Emerald Spell". On this release, Aefen Styrra adopts a more dramatic epic style of atmospheric BM, using orchestral synths to embellish his sound, and this brings the act into grand symphonic BM territory. As on "Ataxian Reign", "Emerald Spell" delivers songs with stirring riffs filled with energy and aggression backed by equally forceful drumming, all topped with menacing, growling vocals. The lyrics cover landscapes of forests stretching as far as the eye can see, all of them scenes of past battles and wars in which soldiers fought valiantly and died, their bodies left to sink into the ground in unacknowledged graves.

"Of Ashes and Memories Bygone" is a brisk introduction to the Aefen Styrra world, whisking listeners on an exhilarating journey up mountain and down dale that is sometimes moderated by brief moments of calm, respectful reflection for the fallen war dead. Guitars and percussion may be the main instruments, and very aggressive ones at that as they scrabble and pound together, sometimes a little at loggerheads but in the main harmonising well. In all this activity, it's a wonder keyboard-based melodies can get a look in but the production is clear enough that all three instruments can be heard clearly in parts of the song. The raspy vocals add a cold, biting air to the music.

The other three tracks on the EP follow in similar grand style with as much orchestral synth music as there are melodic guitar riffs and enthusiastic drumming, and all of them mixing fast, aggressive music with calmer, more introspective moments of ambient synth and bluesy clean-toned electric guitar tunes. In fact, the best moments on the EP are these quieter ambient instrumental passages, especially on the third and longest track "Obliteration Ritual" where they take over the second half of the song with darkly bewitching, almost harpsichord-like tones tracing a circular ritual while winds blow in the cold darkness.

The music is good though Aefen Styrra's flair for catchy melodies on "Ataxian Reign" seems to have left him, with the songs not featuring very particularly memorable tunes. While the songs score high on technical performance and polish, they are lacking in a distinct originality that would distinguish Aefen Styrra from a thousand and one other melodic atmo-BM acts aiming in a more symphonic BM direction. Sometimes also the music is just a bit too busy, even in those moments where it should be slow and contemplative, and allow listeners time to catch their breath before the BM guitars and percussion blast in and resume their rollercoaster ride.

Overall, the EP presents well but I'm not too sure that it will have much staying power and freshness in the years to come.