Sonic Mass VIvre Encore: Amebix, Amenra, and Lorem Ipsum

Let’s try another 3-in-1 spotlight to keep the sonic juices going, visiting three albums that aren’t really connected but are now because my brain said so. By coincidence, all three albums were submitted by some of 1001OA’s finest resident metalheads, so – get those horns ready! – you know we’re going to have a great time.

Amebix – Sonic Mass (2011, UK)

Let’s begin with number 351 on The List (submitted by Almoehi), an absolutely towering sonic mass-terpiece of anarcho-punk/post-punk/heavy metal from a legend in both the crust punk and extreme metal scenes. Formed in 1978, Amebix was the first UK band to sign to Jello Biafra’s Alternative Tentacles label, who released their first LP Arise! in 1985 (presuming we can call their first album, the 26-minute No Sanctuary [1983], an EP). Shortly after their second LP, Monolith (1987), Amebix broke up and founding vocalist/bassist The Baron (aka Rob Miller) decamped to the Isle of Skye to become a swordsmith, obviously. Two decades (and who knows how many swords later), the band reformed and the gods of genre-mixing smiled. This is their third and final LP. ⚔️

Bandcamp / Discogs / Encyclopaedia Metallum

Amenra – Mass VI (2017, Belgium)

And then we go to number 625 (submitted by frozen), the fourth full-length from a post-/sludge/doom metal band that produces some of the most intense, crushing, pummelling music I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing live, the kind you feel is coming directly from inside your own chest, if not your very soul. “Band” isn’t quite the right word though for Amenra. They’re part of the “Church of Ra” collective, performances feel more like rhythmic and utterly cathartic rituals – indeed, sonic masses -, and their releases are almost like offerings, presented to the gods of metal to atone for the sins not just of the individual band members but of all of humankind. Imho, this is Amenra’s finest offering – listen and be absolved. 🙏🏻

Bandcamp / Discogs / Encyclopaedia Metallum

LOREM IPSUM – Vivre encore (2021, France)

Then, to close our sonic mass on a slightly different note, we go to number 49 (submitted by mbr), a spectacular album from a baroque acoustic screamo band. Yes, you read that right. This is a concept album, each song title the name of a person who has experienced some sort of body failure but, as the title suggests, manages to live on. Amen. 🤘🏻

Neque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. (“Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure.”)

– Cicero, De finibus bonorum et malorum (book 1, section 32)

Bandcamp / Discogs

The cover art is either a black and white photo or very realistic painting of some sort of tall religious-looking stone monument, trees and clouds around with the sun peaking through a round/cross element of the monument. There is no band or album name.
A black and white photo of what appears to be a dead white goose, laying on a black table against a black wall, head out of frame and wings hanging down. There is no band or album name.
A photo of a long-haired white person "sitting" upside down on a brown chair, chest down on the seat, head and one arm hanging down instead of legs, legs bent at an impossible angle (like they've been surgically removed and reattached backwards; that said, the model is a contorsionist, so this might be an undoctored photo!) with knees up and feet pointed down towards the head. The band name is in small white font in the upper-left corner, album name in larger font across the middle on top of the photo.
#acoustic #Amebix #Amenra #crustPunk #LoremIpsum #music #postmetal #screamo