Hailing from the fertile grounds of Kolkata, India, extreme metal duo Tetragrammacide return with their latest offering, “Typho-Tantric Aphorisms from the Arachneophidian Qur’an.” This album title, like the music it contains, is a whirlwind of esoteric references, blistering brutality, and unsettling beauty. Let’s embark on this whirlwind journey, track by track, and see if Tetragrammacide achieves enlightenment or descends into sonic madness.
Track-by-Track Descent into Ritualistic Maelstrom:
- Trans-linguistic Utterance of a Sacred Orgasmal Cry Fills the Lemurian Sky (By the Same Mouth, One True God Crieth Hriliu): Prepare for liftoff. This opening track is an unsettling soundscape of eerie chanting, swirling ambience, and a single, distorted guitar riff that burrows into your brain. The cryptic title hints at the album’s exploration of the intersection between religious fervor and primal chaos.
- Spectral Hyaenas of Amenta Howl, the Vulture of Ma’at Descends, and Tahuti Watches Without His Ape: The chaos explodes. Blast beats erupt, guitars churn with a dissonant fury, and vocalist Rudra Khan howls like a man possessed. Egyptian mythology collides with aural violence, creating a disorienting yet strangely compelling soundscape.
- Intoxicated Bees of Sekhet-Aarhu Circumambulate the Abode of Self Beheaded One Who Forever Danceth in Her Shaktisexual Ecstasy: The relentless assault continues. This track throws in a Middle Eastern groove, adding a layer of unexpected texture to the sonic brutality. The lyrics, steeped in obscure deities and practices, challenge listeners to decipher meaning amidst the maelstrom.
- Nuit Arches Over the Neither-Neither City of Cubes; Hadit Meditates While Hanging Upside Down Inside a Tesseract-Ka’aba: A moment of warped beauty emerges here. The tempo slows slightly, allowing space for a haunting melody to emerge. The bizarre imagery conjured by the title reflects the album’s overall approach: a jarring blend of the beautiful and the grotesque.
- Mandelbrot Scarab Of Fractal Manifestation Trapped In The Arachnid Webs, Spun Above The Hidden Pathways Into Non-Euclidean Interbetweenness: Prepare for another sonic onslaught. This track is a technical death metal whirlwind, showcasing the band’s instrumental prowess. The guitars weave complex patterns, the drums pound with relentless fury, and the vocals contort into inhuman growls. The title, referencing a mathematical concept and arachnid imagery, is a microcosm of the album’s intellectual and visceral assault.
- Vajra Dorje Khadag (Whose Roar Shatters Skulls): A brief instrumental interlude emerges. Distorted drones and unsettling percussion create a sense of unease, a moment of calm before the inevitable storm.
- Atman – The Devouring Serpent of the Self: The final track explodes with a renewed ferocity. This track is a relentless display of sonic violence, pushing the boundaries of extreme metal. The lyrics explore the concept of the self as a devouring serpent, a fitting conclusion to this journey into the darkest corners of human existence.
Verdict: 4 out of 5
“Typho-Tantric Aphorisms from the Arachneophidian Qur’an” is a challenging and rewarding listen. This album is not for the faint of heart. The relentless brutality, the obscure lyrical references, and the dissonant soundscapes all contribute to an experience that is both unsettling and thought-provoking.
A minor point to consider: Listeners who prefer a more traditional approach to extreme metal, with clear song structures and decipherable lyrics, might find this album a bit too esoteric and chaotic.
However, for those seeking a sonic adventure that pushes boundaries and explores the darkest corners of human experience, “Typho-Tantric Aphorisms from the Arachneophidian Qur’an” is a must-listen. Tetragrammacide has crafted an album that is as intellectually stimulating as it is viscerally brutal. This is a descent into aural chaos, a journey that will leave you breathless and questioning your own sanity.
Leave a Reply