After unveiling a new lineup and a slightly heavier, darker sound on the 2024 Inane Ducum EP, Canada’s epic /symphonic black metal act Atavistia is back with a new full-length album, and their style has changed again, albeit a little more subtly.
The band has always been a Wintersun/Ensiferum-worshipping entity, but now, with a distinct lean toward more Viking/Pagan themes and lyrics, rather than cosmic, mystical, or nature themes, the transformation is complete. Song titles like “Raise All Thy Horns”, “Mystic Tavern”, or the Swedish sung “I skogens djup” (in the depths of the forest).
I know, they have always been sort of folky/pagan-y on some of their songs, notably on The Winter Way, but the last album was called Cosmic Warfare. But here, the song structures, while still certainly absolutely bombastic as fuck, and still with some of the most rousing keyboards around, are even more…..folky? The album just feels and sounds more like Ensiferum than ever before – but on steroids.
Especially vocally, where there are more beerhall-y cleans, choirs and chants. Which was a pleasant change, as I felt they were getting darker and heavier on Inane Ducum, and new member, backing vocalist Spencer Budworth, is far less involved with his deeper bellows than on the EP.
What you have on Old Gods Awaken is a peppier, bouncier, and, dare I say, ‘happier’ Atavistia. Along with Wintersun and Ensiferum, they line up even more with some of their Canadian contemporaries like Blackguard and Nordheim. Just listen to “Seeker of Time” (which could be an Ensiferum or Turisas song), “To A New World”, or “Goddess of My Dreams”, both more restrained and controlled tracks.
It’s still epic as fuck, and again, the keyboards of founder Matt Sippola are just downright brilliant. And the band still delivers 300bpm bombastic madness with tracks like “Mystic Tavern”, “Riding the White Storm” or rollicking “I skogens djup”, which feels like Finntroll on crack.
The epic 11-minute (the album’s sole ‘long’ song) album ending title track has a Finnish-sung chorus and delivers all sorts of folky atmospheres, riffs, and vocals blended in with the band’s core blistering pace and delivery, and it ends another great Avatistia album perfectly.
