Permanently on the lookout for new talent, Darkness Shall Rise Productions are delighted to present their latest discovery. After several years of secrecy, Germany-based AIVVASS emerge from the shadows to unveil their aptly-titled EPs Occult Rites I & II. Named after the non-corporeal being Aleister Crowley claimed to have dictated his Liber AL vel Legis, it's no surprise that the band's creations are deeply rooted in Thelemic magick and occult lore.
Expertly oscillating between bludgeoning heaviness and acoustic serenity, AIVVASS's compositions take listeners on a captivating journey through polarities. Mellow neo-folk melodies, accompanied by clean singing, are seamlessly intertwined with down-tuned doom riffs and beastly growls. Predominantly mid-paced tracks like the masterfully crafted "Lucifer" and "Witchcraft" exude a meditative quality, achieved through numerous repetitions of each arrangement. Enhancing the dense atmosphere are various samples, including invocations by The Great Beast himself.
If you enjoy doom metal, neo-folk, shoegaze, or post-rock, you should definitely give AIVVASS a try. Fiends of the dark arts and aficionados of obscure sonic manifestations alike: COME TO THE SABBATH!
