Despite a misfire on an unusual Averoígne, French duo Arcanist return to form as one of the most exciting Dungeon Synth artists of recent years. Their Berlin School synth and visionary atmospheres spark again as familiar instruments conjures familiar mystiques. Xeethra opens up the record dense and mysterious. Its swirling winds shroud subtle percussive lines that give way to an ooze of lead melody. Exotic and grand, we glimmer upon an advanced paradise often secluded by desert winds.
The Death Of Lliotha and The Master Of Crabs play as otherworldly melodies, transcendent tunes evoking esoteric adventures through lush arrangements where every note feels intentional upon the next. Placed around Zothique's two ten minute plus epics, they provide a change of pace from these ambitious compositions.
Empire Of The Necromancers is a brilliantly suggestive title. Around the three minute mark, a sense of arrival meets a gruesomely sluggish, grisly set of dark synths. The deep pounding below seeding dread. At its peak we mellow into a curious game of avoidance, as if attempting to penetrate undetected. The aesthetic could be a snug fit for Synthwave. Visions of dystopian 80s movies come to mind. Sadly though, it never concludes this direction and fizzles out to recycle the atmosphere heard at its start.
The Dark Eidolon is the albums crown jewel. Starting with distant thunderstrikes, It's eerie crawl towards a menacing buzzsaw synth is utterly foreboding, foreshadowing the coming crescendo. Its midsection promotes its most engaging Berlin school drive. The energy is almost danceable. After some brief theatrics, a swift transition occurs. The beast has arrived! Mustered along by a spacious drum beat, that buzz saw riff reappears a scowling cry of graven Doom Metal riffage. After some punishing repetitions, It swiftly subsides into an acoustic echo of that lurching menace, feeling as if it might return again, but the beast retreats into its hole.
This is the Arcanist I adore! Although this may seem like a "safe" return of sorts, the familiar motifs and techniques carry such vivid power. There is much yet to be explored and Zothique does that again, another adventure into the enigmatic!
Rating: 8/10