Azure Emote – Cryptic Aura

Azure Emote is an avant-garde death metal band created in 2003 by Mike Hrubovcak (ex Montrosity). The band was formed as an experimental musical outlet to ‘express personal negativity without the genre limitations often present within extreme metal’.

Five years after its last release, The Third Perspective (2020), the project is back with a ten-tracker full-length entitled Cryptic Aura. Nowadays, Azure Emote incorporates a wide spectrum of prominent guest musicians, instruments and musical styles to give each song it’s own unique sound. Thus, apart from the aforementioned (vocals/keyboards/samples) the project is comprised of following world class musicians; Ryan Moll (Total Fucking Destruction), Mike Heller (Malignancy, Raven, ex-Fear Factory…), Kelly Conlon (ex-Death, ex-Monstrosity…), Pete Johansen (ex-Sirenia) and Anna Murphy ( ex-Eluveitie). Furthermore, James Murphy (ex-Death, ex-Obituary, ex-Testament), Andy La Rocque (King Diamond) and Bob Davodian (ex-Divine Rapture) contribute solos.

The album, released via Testimony Records, contains following ten tracks:

01. Into Abysmal Oblivion
02. Insomnia Nervosa
03. Aeons Adrift
04. Bleed With The Moon
05. Defiance Infernus
06. Provoking The Obscene
07. Disease Of The Soul
08. Feast Of Leeches
09. Return To The Unknown
10. Writhing Lunacy

As depicted above, Cryptic Aura starts with a fast and violent opening track, “Into Abysmal Oblivion”. Next song named “Insomnia Nervosa” is a bit different to its predecessor as it features this captivating, disturbing and hypnotic atmospheres and ditto, almost prog orchestrations. A few more prog patterns appear on the energetic follower, “Aeons Adrift”. On “Bleed With The Moon”, like in the opening song, with visceral fury and violent suffocating sounds, where the monotony is broken with some beautiful and melancholic violin parts. “Defiance Infernus” is somehow theatrical, excessively dramatic and cinematic, yet once again with some fascinating breaks. Next one is one of my favourites, a track named “Provoking The Obscene”. It features some mystical yet very strong female backing vocals, and a strong presence of powerful rhythm and catchy harmonies. “Feast Of Leeches” (watch the official video below) plunges us back into violence, another very strong track where Mike Heller’s handling of the drums is quite impressive. Apart from being the only track where the drums become the central element, the track is also recognizable for its interesting duet between Anna Murphy and Mike Hrubovcak. This leads us to the final sonic horror assault with “Writhing Lunacy”. This closing track features a cacophony of agony and terrifying screams, accompanied by the insistent percussion.

A major highlight of the album is the prominent and skillful violin playing creating this unique atmosphere. The cover photo, also created by Mr. Hrubovcak, is symbolizing the trauma and seismic change that has occurred throughout the last five years: ‘burning the effigy of the past, while embracing the cryptic next chapter’.

In conclusion; Cryptic Aura is a very unique release that showcases Azure Emote’s artistic ambition. It masterfully fuses death metal with a wide array of other styles, including industrial, prog and psychedelic music. It is without doubt a dense, evocative and intellectually engaging chapter in Azure Emote’s catalogue.

Cryptic Aura is definitely not for those seeking a more conventional death metal experience. On the other hand it is an essential listen for fans of avant-garde and progressive extreme metal who appreciate music that pushes boundaries and explores diverse sonic textures.

For further information on the fourth album from Azure Emote visit https://azureemote.bandcamp.com/album/cryptic-aura-2