Permanently on the lookout for new blood, Darkness Shall Rise productions are delighted to proffer its latest discovery. Having concocted their curious amalgam in secrecy for several years Germany-based AIVVASS come out of the shadows to reveal their aptly-titled EPs Occult Rites I & II. Named after the non-corporeal being which Aleister Crowley claimed to have dictated his ?Liber AL vel Legis? it takes no wonder that the obscure band`s creations are profoundly steeped in Thelemic magick and occult lore. Expertly oscillating between bludgeoning heaviness and acoustic serenity the compositions of AIVVASS take the listener on a stunning ride between polarities. Mellow Neo-Folk accompanied by clean singing are effortlessly intertwined with down-tuned Doom riffs and evocative growling of a bestial nature. The predominantly mid-paced songs like the masterfully crafted ?Lucifer? or ?Witchcraft? unfold a meditative quality by means of numerous repetitions of each arrangement. Adding to the atmospherically dense recordings are various samples including invocations by The Great Beast himself. If you like Doom Metal, Neofolk, maybe shoegaze and post-rock as well, you definitely should give it a try. Fiends of the dark arts and aficionados of obscure sonic manifestation alike: COME TO THE SABBATH!
