I still remember the first time I heard Apexapian, Atræ Bilis‘ debut full-length album. I was messing around on YouTube when I saw the track premiere for “Lore Beyond Bone”; the album’s description didn’t sound like my usual thing, but the cover art was really cool, and it was a 20 Buck Spin release, so at the very least it felt worth giving an absent-minded listen. Little did I realize at the time the way that album would hook itself into me and rewire the chemistry of my brain. It wasn’t just an album I thought was good, it was an album I had to tell everyone about. I raved about it to the Nine Circles staff, I showed it to all my death metal loving friends, I grabbed strangers on the street and shook them by the shoulders and screamed “ISN’T IT SO COOL WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE DEATH METAL CAN BE THIS GOOD?” OK, maybe that last part was a little bit of hyperbole, but the underlying truth remains: I loved this band. Atræ Bilis’ commitment to the unorthodox is what makes them special, and on Aumicide the band refines pushing boundaries to a science.

Striking a balance between razor sharp technical prowess, heady psychedelia, and knuckle-dragging brutality, Aumicide is a demonstration of what growth Atræ Bilis has been capable of in such a relatively short amount of time. New bass player Miles Morrison gels so well with the other members that you’d never believe he joined between albums, bringing guttural low end to the party while marrying together the lightning technicality of both guitarist David Stepanavicius and drummer Luka Govendnik. Vocalist Jordan Berglund pushes himself to incorporate new styles of delivery to showcase more of the range he possesses and fill more space in the band’s dynamic. David’s guitar playing features even more unconventional techniques, filled with playful use of effects, dizzying fretboard antics, and descent into gut-churning breakdowns a la “Kingdom of Cortisol”. It is immediately apparent how hard every member of this band pushed themselves to make a record that surpassed it’s predecessor, and it is also immediately apparent how successful they were at this task. These riffs make a statement instead of merely showing off; the technical shredding, the psychedelic atmosphere, the slam brutality all work together to offset and enhance each other, striking a perfect balance that stays engaging from minute one until the trail off of album closer “Excruciate Incarnate”.

Aumicide encompass the best of what can make death metal so interesting and engaging while managing to leave all the filler behind. It outdoes Apexapian in every regard. It is an album that should make this band a household name for any fan of modern death metal, or even converts like me, branching out beyond the old-school towards more dissonant styles. It’s a triumph, a fucking great time through and through, and most importantly, it is an album that makes me open the windows and doors of my house and shout at the top of my lungs:

“ISN’T IT SO COOL WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE DEATH METAL CAN BE THIS GOOD?“

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Aumicide is available digitally and on CD, tape, and (of course) vinyl LP through the almighty 20 Buck Spin. For more information on Atræ Bilis, please check out the band’s Facebook page.