Autumn Nostalgie - Ataraxia (2021)
By Flork
As the leaves on the trees change colour and the autumn rains begin, a sense of melancholy creeps through the air. For some of us, summer was all too short, while for others, the Florkster included, we were glad to see it end. We were glad to see the relentless heat retreat and subsequently be replaced by more comfortable temperatures. And as I listen to Ataraxia by the foursome from Šamorin, Autumn Nostalgie, I'm somewhat flooded by memories of times long past. The October air is crisp and Indian summer is here. The rains may have stopped for the time being, yet we are still breathing in the air of an atmosphere of uncertain times and tension. And perhaps this is why I am in a melancholic mood with my emotions in high conflict with each other and a warm, sunny day for a backdrop.
The cheerful mood of Alámerülés, the second track on Ataraxia, manages to encapsulate and interpret my thoughts with its energetic optimism and upbeat groove. The rough-cut, bestial vocals enhance my mood rather than depress it further. They are a bit strange to hear initially, since all the tracks are sung as opposed to growled. Yet I find them interesting and even intriguing as the lyrics are all in Hungarian and provide a compelling, although somewhat bizarre contrast to the melodies. Autumn Nostalgie somewhat grounds me as I listen to their songs. It is a blend of shoegaze and black metal music that could also be classified as post black metal with ambient washes of sound created by the guitars. Ataraxia is their second full-length release following their debut Esse Est Percipi in 2020. It is a bit different from the former, since it is more positive perhaps bordering on enthusiastic, yet still maintains the doom and darkness of the genre in a clever and subtle way. Tracks like Memento Vivere or the title track Ataraxia are good examples of this, compositions that carry weight and depths that reach deep down toward the darkness of the abyss, since they are the longest and lean toward classic black metal. Others, like The Dark light of the Soul and Shadow of Summer Trees are somewhat lighter and much shorter, but still contain catchy riffs and melodies that would lead to boredom if extended. The instrumental tracks are even shorter and make for nice breaks, acting as bridges between the longer songs.
And my overall impression? I enjoyed listening to this album immensely, since it evokes feelings of nostalgia and serene memories, something I need in a season of longer days and darker nights. Ataraxia may not be for everyone, especially fans of black metal compositions with complicated changes and intense drama, but it will please an audience looking for something that pushes and nudges a heavily established genre away from its comfort zone.
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