2024 Retrospective - AKHLYS

"Oh, endless I
I am the night
I am the stillness
I am the silence" ('Eye Of The Daemon – Daemon I')

In the seventh instalment of our traditional retrospective series, we delve into the 2024 release of the highly anticipated fourth album by AKHLYS, a follow-up to the acclaimed "Melinoë." Comprising six hauntingly nightmarish tracks, "House of the Black Geminus" can rightfully be hailed as the magnum opus of the Night Goddess. We warmly encourage you to explore previous episodes of this series on our website, which spotlights recent releases from SELBST, OTHER WORLD, INSECT ARK, and many more.

Four years after the groundbreaking "Melinoë," which launched AKHLYS onto the live stage worldwide - including renowned festivals such as Party.San, Brutal Assault and Eindhoven Metal Meeting - the oneiric US Black Metal ensemble gathered around mastermind Naas Alcameth (BESTIA ARCANA, NIGHTBRINGER) returns with their fourth transcendent masterpiece.

"The call that leads me
From your howling at noon
Arisen from Darkness
To grant me this boon" ('Sister Silence, Brother Sleep')

"House of The Black Geminus" exudes an overwhelming aura of dread. Fusing ferocious Black Metal with the shadowy tones of Dark Ambient and the brutal chaos of Death Industrial, AKHLYS crafted a chilling blend of psychological terror, crushing intensity, and an ominous sense of unease - a nightmarish odyssey of infernal grandeur.

The process of bringing these night-hymns and demons into existence is almost as powerful and harrowing as the Art itself. In a highly recommended comprehensive three-part interview with Bardo Methodology (Part I, Part II, Part III), Alcameth delves not only into the history of AKHLYS but also into the arduous journey required to create such nightmarish compositions:

"I don't subscribe to the notion, as many do, of just waiting around for inspiration to strike. It doesn't work like that; you gotta bleed for it. I can sit for endless hours, days on end, without producing a single decent riff. Then, out of nowhere, comes that one night when everything breaks through and you're on a roll again – until you're not. That's the cycle. The muse speaks when it wants, how it wants… and then, silence.

When you're feeling perturbed, both mentally and physically, there's a tendency to shun everything related to the creative process. However, pushing yourself beyond comfort, even in a less-than-ideal frame of mind, can prove beneficial. Who knows what might emerge? Especially if you're dealing with something as dark and adverse as black metal. Perhaps some lightning will still strike."

In comparison with "Melinoë", the production and sonic character of "House of the Black Geminus" has evolved, imparting a distinct mood and atmosphere to the new tracks. While Dave Otero (ABORTED, CATTLE DECAPITATION) has been responsible for producing all AKHLYS albums since 2015's "The Dreaming I," pursuit of the perfect sound needed a different approach this time. Alcameth elaborates in the aforementioned interview:

"After working extensively on the same material, you know exactly where it's going in your head. The breakthrough came with a particular mix Dave sent me. In the accompanying email, he explained, 'I stopped approaching this purely as a metal album but rather as an ambient work, where the ambience is everything.' That's when everything clicked. It perfectly captured the vibe I was aiming for. The drums, vocals, and keyboards were exactly where we wanted them. It's interesting because you're trying to communicate these subjective concepts to an outside party. The way they interpret it can be hit or miss, especially when you're holding onto a specific idea. This process was not only a step out of my comfort zone but also Dave's, as we aimed to maximise these elements in a clever way without compromising the mix. Amazingly, we got there."

Continuing along the lyrical path established since the band's inception – a profound exploration of night terrors, nightmares, and the phenomenon of sleep paralysis – "House of the Black Geminus" examines these themes through an esoteric and alchemical lens. To deepen the dimensions, AKHLYS enlisted renowned writer Richard Gavin to craft the lyrics for 'Through the Abyssal Door', the album's third composition. Gavin, celebrated not only for his contributions to the Horror and Fantasy genres but also as one of the most influential voices in contemporary Occultism, brings a unique vision to this haunting work. Learn more about the author here.

"The seismic churn of a portal,
Yawning deep in the Earth,
Eternity chanced by a mortal,
This night of daemonic rebirth" ('Through The Abyssal Door')

Listen to the full album below, on our YouTube channel and via all streaming platforms:

While remaining tight-lipped about the band's upcoming plans for 2025 – apart from confirmed performances at the UK's Fortress Festival and in Turkey this summer – Naas Alcameth shared with us his top 10 musical recommendations from 2024:

01. TREPANERINGSRITUALEN "The Totality Of Death – Alpha / Omega"
02. SHAARIMOTH "Devildom"
03. DEATHLESS VOID "The Voluptuous Fire of Sin"
04. NORDVARGR "Resignation IV"
05. HORNA "Nyx"
06. WRATHPRAYER "Enkoimeterion"
07. CHAOS INVOCATION "Wherever We Roam…"
08. ULCERATE "Cutting the Throat of God"
09. AETHYRICK "Death Is Absent"
10. LIFVSLEDA "Evangelii Harold"