{"id":99379,"date":"2020-01-28T11:00:52","date_gmt":"2020-01-28T17:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/toiletovhell.com\/?p=99379"},"modified":"2020-01-26T19:52:32","modified_gmt":"2020-01-27T01:52:32","slug":"review-izthmi-the-arrows-of-our-ways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toiletovhell.com\/review-izthmi-the-arrows-of-our-ways\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Izthmi – The Arrows of Our Ways<\/i>"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Oh, what could have been.<\/p>\n

Before we get into the music, let\u2019s take a moment to appreciate the album art created by one Vojt\u011bch “Moonroot” Doubek. It depicts an autumn forest scene awash in warm colors, the hash of canvas providing texture and added tactile pleasure. A lone humanoid form, naked, hairless, and riddled with arrows, lies on a circular plate, perhaps the remnants of a used trap; perhaps he is the main course. Two trees tower over the body, standing in silent judgment. They have found the man wanting and carried out his execution.\u00a0 Fellow trees loom faded in the distance after slowly departing the scene, their grisly work complete.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, my dear friends, I am the trees in this story and the body is Izthmi<\/strong>. They have come with the best of intentions and a truckload of talent. Undeniable talent. Please remember that. But by the end of this piece, my quiver will reluctantly be emptied in hopes that Izthmi will continue honing their craft and return reforged, stronger and more focused, in future efforts.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with Izthmi\u2019s strengths because herein lies the half-realized promise. Izthmi is capable of breathing life into the often stagnant waters of black metal through a careful blending of prog sensibilities, post-hardcore jangly and jarring passages, and filthy down-scale death metal riffing. Their technical prowess matched with an ear for beautifully evocative and genuinely touching melodies is a true achievement and, when successful, combines into stunning work.<\/p>\n

The album\u2019s last two proper tracks and album singles, \u201cA Shout that Bursts through the Silence of Unmeaning\u201d and \u201cThe Arrows of Our Ways,\u201d embody Izthmi\u2019s nearly limitless ceiling. Both songs traipse through the aforementioned genrescapes with alacrity, melodies flowing through each other and buttressed by frequently fluctuating yet coherent tempo changes. \u201cA Shout\u2026\u201d finds its primary purpose best expressed through heavily deathened black metal riffs trading off with post-inflected trilling to create an atmosphere of longing. \u201c The Arrows of Our Ways\u201d succeeds through slower, more contemplative passages with an emphasis on anguished screams that fade into painful exhaustion to squeeze out every drop of grief. These two tracks were chosen as singles for a very good reason and would whet any appetite.<\/p>\n