Enuma Elish take their name from a Babylonian creation myth. Their latest single is called ‘Ahura Mazda’, known as the god of the sky in a branch of Iranian Theology.
If not clear already, entering this band’s world is to tunnel deep into cavernous esoterica. Appropriate then that ‘Ahura Mazda’s’ opening drum patterns sound like an eerie calling card, over which ethereal vocals wail like a banshee.
It’s atmospheric and at times downright creepy, nestling you into a compellingly uneasy soundscape, cinematically analogous to a psychological horror film.
It sounds like ‘90s-era Swans, but also ‘70s-era Rush. It’s going to appeal to those inclined to the fantastical, confusing and arcane.
That said, things do settle into something more traditional. Tool-like riffs chug brutishly after the minute-long introduction and the vocals become something less ghostly. They’re still visceral, jumping wildly up the register and switching unpredictably between yelps and shouts, but they’re not quite so mysterious.
It’s a bluesy piece. Following the Black Sabbath tradition, it feels like Enuma Elish have taken the traditions of blues rock and distorted its melodies into something darker. It’s easy to envisage an equivalent to ‘Ahura Mazda’ that extends passed the 10-minute mark in a multi-phased and operatic form.
As is, five-minutes will do. It’s already ambitious but Ahura Mazda possess enough unearthly charm to excel in the longer format – and it is charming. Beneath the strange and puzzling musical landscapes, what they present is something beautiful.
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