Deathlike Dawn – Among the Graves of the Archetypes

Next band I choose to present today is Deathlike Dawn who hail from a Polish extreme metal scene that has achieved great international success and has become one of the most significant ambassadors of Polish culture.

Deathlike Dawn is a solo work the solo work of Hyperborean, with session lead vocals by J. Among the Graves of the Archetypes is the title for this second full-length album by this Polish act. As I never heard the debut album Deliria and Dreams, I didn’t know what to expect before listening to this sophomore album for the first time. Already, with the first tones of the opening song “A Monument I Shall Raise in Flame”, I understood immediately that I’m dealing with some jaw-dropping, atmospheric, raw & frightening and almost hallucinatory black metal.

The opening sounds are like the opening the gates of hell, with an almost siren-like piercing guitar riffs, tight rhythm section, impressive bass lines, dynamic and intense drums, and demonic and howling vocals. I can’t help thinkin’ how it’s really amazing what one man alone can create nowadays! Well, next to the following track called “Plutonic Ether“, where the high standards set with the opening song, also continues and are maintained on “Plutonic Ether“. On this track we can even hear some flute-like sounds and a few grim passages, which makes this one unpredictable and adventurous journey. It got me hooked and it felt catchy in a strange way. The following one is called “Forked Tongues of Eternal Fire“, featuring some horn-like fanfares and constantly changing and varied soundscapes and accompanying icy atmosphere. “Darkly Treads the Twilight” is a bit different track, clearly still black metal, but with a strange harmony and abrasive guitar sound. “In Tenebrous Depths, a Transfiguration” sounds very much like what its title portends, an experience of agony, icy and chilling atmosphere, it almost felt like participating in some kind of a ritual. The closing track is probably the highlight of the album, a hidden gem perserved for the end. It features some gripping melodies, in this case accompanied by a stunning solo. The whole atmsophere is yet again hellish and haunting, while the production is pretty solid and diversified. Lyrically the band covers themes of mythology, darkness and death. Cover art is pretty much representative of the sound of all six songs (42 minutes of playing time), where every song has its own well-plotted adventure across a constantly changing soundscape. Deathlike Dawn don’t hide their musical influences and with the release of Among the Graves of the Archetypes they show that they clearly prefer the second wave sound.

Long story short; Among the Graves of the Archetypes is yet another slab of quality Polish metal, a stunning record, esp. if you worship the raw black metal sound and bands as Inquisition, Abigail, Behemoth, Sargeist, A Testament to Despair, Azaghal etc.

For more info go to https://deathlikedawn.bandcamp.com/album/among-the-graves-of-the-archetypes