If you ask me, one of the most potent tools that any black metal act could possibly utilize in the crafting of their music is plain and simple melody. When it’s used right, it makes for a truly staggering performance that can reel in virtually every listener without so much as a second thought and the album as a whole can become elevated far above the competition to be made something that’s particularly interesting. A balance of it is something that many understandably struggle with, yet it’s on their very first full-length album that Amaltheia shows us precisely how it’s done while still being equal parts raw and unforgiving.

Looking at the cover art and the first few minutes of their eponymous effort, it would be almost effortless to look at Amaltheia and dismiss their first go at a full-length as something that could use a tad more flair or spice that could really bring the album together as a piece that’s entertaining right from the start as well as something that still devastates. Upon further inspection, however, it should become all but clear that Amaltheia is anything but lacking. Much more than a simple standard black metal effort with a modern thought process behind its creation, the very essence of what Amaltheia has brought forth here for their first effort is nothing to sneeze at whatsoever as it’s throughout the six tracks presented to us here give us themes that echo the ideas of false enlightenment and salvation in perpetual darkness with the very madness we’re taught to deny singing to us ever so sweetly for the duration of the record. Paired alongside the occasional use of melody that immediately allows the effort to rise above so much of the competition at the speed of a mere snap of the fingers, Amaltheia manages to defy initial expectations to allow their debut effort to become a real treat for anyone who finds themselves even a slight fan of what black metal can pump out nowadays with everything that’s brought forward here all but exemplary when we manage to find a band that not only is capable to craft something worth listening to, but accomplishes the feat of delivering quality that simply cannot be denied.

Even taking out of the equation the fact that this is Amaltheia’s debut, to look into all that this effort has to offer and not find yourself even mildly impressed by what’s brought forward would be to practically spit in the face of quality and its boons for that’s precisely what has been summoned to bring this album to life. The future is nothing but bright for Amaltheia given the excellence that they executed wondrously for this album, and I don’t think we’ll find ourselves disappointed by this name any time soon.

“Amaltheia” releases on March 11th via Godz ov War Productions!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Amaltheia” on Bandcamp here, or via YouTube below.

LIKE Amaltheia on Facebook here.