Band:	Amiensus
Album:	Reclamation: Part 1
Style:	Melodic black metal, Progressive metal
Release date:	April 2024
A review by:	AndyMetalFreak

01. Blink Of The Moment
02. Reverie
03. Senses Amplified
04. Sun And Moon
05. A Consciousness Throughout Time
06. Vermillion Fog Of War
07. Spoken Into Will
08. Transcendence Through Grief

Here Amiensus treats us to the first of a two-part Reclamation, and it promises to be as memorable as it is ambitious.

Come to think of it, there aren't actually that many bands at the progressive end of the black metal spectrum you can name at the drop of a hat; after all, incorporating progressive elements into traditional black metal is far from the easiest or most natural of combinations. However, there are a few bands that have succeeded in doing so, with Enslaved and Borknagar amongst the best representations of this, and Amiensus (whose themes generally encompass philosophy, theology, and mythology) are also part of this club. The Americans may have slipped you by since their formation in 2010, but if that's the case then there's always time to make amends, because 2024 sees the band release not just one, but two full-length albums. The first of this pair is Reclamation: Part 1, which I'm here to tell you about first.

Reclamation: Part 1 is the band's fourth full-length offering, and one of the finest examples today of what can be achieved through merging progressive elements together with traditional and melodic black metal; as this talented quintet will show you, writing progressive music needn't be ultra-technical or structurally complex either, but can actually be quite strikingly melodic. The opening song "Blink Of The Moment" intriguingly begins in a slow, melancholic manner, as the opening riff majestically entices you in. Throughout the song, the instrumentation never crosses over into rapidity, instead mostly consisting of great sweeping melancholic riffs courtesy of Kelsey Roe, led by a steady rhythm section comprising Todd Farnham (bass) and Chris Piette (drums), with the slower sections really emphasizing the quality of the bass. The most interesting element is the multiple vocal styles performed by founding duo James Benson and Alec Rozsa that complement each section, the harsher shrieks performing during the heavier sections, while passionate clean singing rings out in the choruses.

The fabulous clean vocal performance continues to shine on the next track "Reverie"; here, they gracefully echo in harmony with the soft tranquil instrumentation, before the heavy melodic riffs erupt into action. The band reach their progressive heights on this track; the music compositions and instrumental layering are quite marvellous, the guitar work between the soft and heavier sections has equal memorability, and this is accompanied by light synth work that gives off the sound of a weeping wind. This is mostly a mid-tempo, melancholic song, but there's also a glimmer of post-black, and if anything, I'm reminded in several places of the extraordinarily talented one-man melodic black metal band Shylmagoghnar, who's also certainly not shy when it comes to experimenting in progressive elements. The next track "Senses Amplified" sees the band take a more complex approach in songwriting, as the rhythm takes a more irregular, progressive turn with some drastic changes in tempo.

The main album highlight comes in at track 4, namely "Sun And Moon", and there are not many tracks on the 2024 metal calendar quite as remarkable as this. This is an undeniably soft track, being mostly acoustic and clean singing-based, but the dreamy atmosphere that's built by the blackgaze instrumentation is simply heavenly. However, it's the heavy final build-up just before the final repetitive chorus break that's not just the highlight of the song, but a particular album highlight period.

From here, the songwriting continues to impress through a layering of epic symphonic arrangements, furious blast beats, ferocious tremolos, and even string instruments. "Vermillion Fog Of War" is definitely the album's catchiest and most accessible song, driven by an infectious groovy rhythm section, accompanied by classic meloblack tremolos, deep growls and higher-pitched shrieks, as well as spontaneous changes in rhythm and tempo to give it that progressive touch. The album's finishing song "Transcendence Through Grief" is perhaps the most interesting surprise of all; it's a complexly structured progressive instrumental, with a large array of guitar work from technical solos to soft acoustic melodies, and acts as a great send-off before you move onto Reclamation: Part 2.

Amiensus are a black metal band of extraordinary talent who've been up until now merely finding their way, experimenting and incorporating progressive, post-black, and meloblack elements, and now I believe they've reached a high point in their career where everything has finally come together. They have certainly set themselves a high benchmark with Reclamation: Part 1, and Reclamation: Part 2 promises to follow exactly from where this first part left off.