ATLVS

The Wound, The Blade

At this point, it is becoming increasingly likely that there must be something in the water down under that is leading Australia to boast one of the highest numbers of high-quality metal bands per capita worldwide. In collaboration with Scottie Simpson of Alpha Wolf, ATLVS have delivered an EP that hits like a repeated strike to the jaw. Add lyrics that are enough to put a lump in anyone’s throat to the pulverizing instrumentals, and you have the band’s latest release, The Wound, The Blade.

The record wastes no time, with the opening track, “Kodokushi.” Telling the listener everything they need to know about this EP, it sets the tone with guttural vocals, guitars and drums that resemble a freight train, and some of the bleakest and honest lyrics you’ll hear all year. The name of the track is a phenomenon of “lonely death” in Japan, where people die alone and go undiscovered for a long period of time, per a Wikipedia search. This release lyrically explores this dark and hopeless place, weaving dissonant guitars tastefully into the unsettling atmosphere and toeing the line between familiarity and the unknown.

With The Wound, The Blade, they have shown that they deserve a seat at the table with the other prominent bands coming out of Australia in recent years.

A couple of tracks later, ATLVS subvert expectations in “Comethazine,” building up to a haunting breakdown that is slow-moving, yet crushing. The eerie juxtaposition of quiet vocals and earth-shaking instrumentation is a perfect thematic representation of the inner turmoil communicated through the lyrics.

“Synthetic Heaven” and “Cold Blood” close out the record with more melodic and open elements, while maintaining the suffocating atmosphere the band built throughout the rest of the EP. The final two tracks combine for a memorable climax to one of the heaviest EPs of the year, leaving the listener wondering what comes next for the dominating metal outfit.

With a sound that fills a room, even from a record, it’s hard to deny the presence that ATLVS bring to one of the strongest metal scenes globally. With The Wound, The Blade, they have shown that they deserve a seat at the table with the other prominent bands coming out of Australia in recent years. This record brings the heat with a sonic acumen that has an ominous quality to it, pummeling instrumentals, and raw and vulnerable lyrics to boot.

ATLVS’ sophomore EP The Wound, The Blade is set to release this Friday, July 15.