Botanist - VII - Beast of Arpocalyx (2024)

I think the use of a lot of clean vocals on the previous Botanist album was a convincing success, but if you regretted it you'll be pleased to read that it nearly disappeared on the latest one VII - Beast of Arpocalyx, only aggressive screamed vocals remaining (except for a few clean backing vocals). This and maybe a bit more blast beats make the overall mood of Beast of Arpocalyx darker and more aggro, even if the hammered dulcimer parts are still mostly melodic (if you don't know Botanist yet, it's a one-man band with a drummer, and it's only drumming and hammered dulcimer and vocals, no guitars). The album has been released last year, but was recorded back in 2016, so it's literary a return but a rawer past of Botanist (and probably not indicating which direction he'll be taking next). Probably also explains why two albums in 2024. Anyway what doesn't change with Botanist be it 2016 or 2024 is the high musicianship level and songwriting skill, and obviously uniqueness, so it's another worthy additions to its awesome discography. 

 

The BC page. 

 

Botanist - Paleobotany (2024)

Paleobotany is the twelfth album from Botanist, in which the post-black metal one-man band playing hammered dulcimer instead of guitars and singing about plants move further away from black metal, with a totally convincing result. On Paleobotany the focus was on creating memorable songs, and it sounds like there have been a lot of work dedicated to the clean singing parts, which is now the most important part of the singing. And the work paid off, those clean vocals are great. The extreme metal vocals are still present, rare but more impacting thanks to the contrast. The blast beats are also still there, and the drumming as good as usual. Maybe my favourite Botanist album so far, I really recommend it!

The Bandcamp page.

 

My 15 favourite metal released in 2021

Here are my favourite metal releases in 2021 (happens to be mostly death metal and hardcore and a bit of sludge this time). Alphabetical order. Click on the name to go to the review.

 

Altarage - Succumb

 

Antediluvian - The Divine Punishment

 

Botanist / Thief - EP0 Cicatric - Diamond Brush

 

Eyehategod - A History of Nomadic Bahavior

 

Fange - Pantocrator

  

FLUIDS - Not Dark Yet

 

Full of Hell - Garden of Burning Apparitions

 

Mortiferum - Preserved in Torment

 

Obscura - A Valediction

 

Ophidian I - Desolate

 

Portal - Avow

 

Sanguisugabogg - Tortured Whole

 

Section H8 - Welcome to the Nightmare

  

Terminal Bliss - Brute Err/atta!

 

USA/MEXICO - Del Rio

 

 

Botanist / Thief - EP0 Cicatrix / Diamond Brush (split 2021)

 

EP0 Cicatrix / Diamond Brush is a strange split with two strange musical entities, what they have in common is that both are mostly one-man projects, and also that the one doing Thief have been a live musician for Botanist. But both are really different. Botanist is floral themed black metal with only drums, vocals, and hammered dulcimer, unique and excellent, while Thief is more electronic music oriented with elements of synthwave, bits of trap metal and hip-hop, and choirs and spoken words that could remind Zeal and Ardor. For the first time with live drums and guitars in this split. A mix a bit disturbing at first but don't run, the result is actually very good.

Recommended!

The Bandcamp page