Band – Grandeur
Album – Aurea Aetas
Country of Origin – Austria
Genre – Black Metal/Crust
Release Date – August 20, 2021
Label – Absolute Contempt Records/Halo Of Flies Records
Author – Hayduke X
Hailing from Austria, Grandeur is a new solo project from Erech. After a brief, dungeon synth style opening, the opening track Acatalepsia hits like a tidal wave. Thoughtful, earworm tremolo riffing washes over blasts, while the artist’s earnest howls cry out above the swarm. It doesn’t take long to feel the earnest passion behind this project. While it undoubtedly helps that crusty black metal is a genre sweet spot for me, I maintain that Aurea Aetas is an above average example of this style.
Based on what I can see on Metal Archives, Erech, under various names, is in multiple other projects going back as far as 2010. Perhaps that’s why Grandeur charges out of the gate so hard. He has the playing and writing experience to manifest brilliance.
Throughout the brief, four track EP, Erech deftly melds triumphant melodic riffs with the hard edge of punk. This is fist pumping, sing-along, blackened melodic crust. One can hope that there is eventually a live lineup and that it tours the American midwest so that I can do precisely that. Moments of quiet contemplation weave in and out throughout, only to be replaced once again by raging fury. Please, let there be more of this, and soon.
Originally released on June 14 by the artist, the EP will see physical release through the (one time only?) resurrected Halo Of Flies Records and “brother label eternal” Absolute Contempt Records. Proceeds from the sale of this release will be donated to Animal Rescue Organizations around the world.
Biography: Hayduke X has been writing for MoshPitNation since June of 2016. He is also a contributor to The Metal Wanderlust. Prior to joining the MoshPitNation team, Hayduke published reviews on his own blog Rage and Frustration. In addition, he has DJ’ed an online metal radio show of the same name as his blog, written for TOmetal.com, done interviews for Metal Rules, and collaborated with The Art of B Productions to create video interviews with a wide variety of bands.
