As an active member of the metal scene and the bass scene (my unique interests), I’ve found myself looking for bands that suit my tastes. But I was only able to figure out what these “tastes” were after discovering the band that might be the best chance Metal has at embracing Electronic Music. In a world where “Ye” is wearing black Metal T-Shirts and promoting Metal, there is something brewing in the desert of California in Joshua Tree. Forget
about Ghostmane and Suicide Boys, Antania has the sound that makes a metaler bang his head.
Just a few months ago, I got to see this relatively hidden band in Nantes, France opening for Psyclon Nine, that had begun paving its way through the business merging death and blackened metal with bass music in a way that has never been done. Antania – known to carry doom, nu metal, and alternative trap sounds – got all sorts of reactions from the Industrial scene: people saying things like “a sound never heard before and what the hell is this?”
It all started from a single article in Hype Magazine. The interest for this band spread among the Industrial music community. They also seem to be having the most fun bending genres with their latest album: “The God Complex.” Where bass music and trap metal projects failed to truly affect the metal fan base, there’s something different going on here. Song structures that metalheads can relate to.
This album is unlike anything I’ve listened to before. As a hardcore music lover, I spend 80% of my day listening to all types of heavy music. What initially drew me in is the continuity and fluidity between each track. We experience the jumps between synth-y reverbs, fire trap-like beats and headbanging growls in the same songs. Kali Mortem‘s vocals are impressive and Dr Luna’s approach to doom bass just works.
“The God Complex” Album cover. | Image via Antania
This album’s prominent features come from its artistry and overall aesthetic. There is beautiful concept art that shows these Bloodborne-esque creatures, each representing ID channel based lyrics. The visualizers for a few of the songs such as “Angels and Demons,” “D3D Solz,” “Trophy,” “Black Glitch
Six” and the headliner “The God Complex” show these creatures in full bass metal glory.
As I mentioned before, much of the initial hype came from the band members themselves (they know how to promote and they kept showing up on my feed via ads) and their recent performances in Europe. They are masked, and keep their real identities hidden, going by names that demonstrate their Evil Selves.
With every performance, they drip with genre bending tension. Thriving off each other’s energies and their hateful lyricism, it enhances the listening experience tenfold. Perfect examples that demonstrate this are “D3D Solz,” “Black Glith Six,” and “Trophy”. We also have “Todays Your Day,” “Cyclops,” and “August,” which show a different side of this band: raw, emotional and beautiful. There’s an ever-present longing that is especially prevalent in the song.
Antania in concert in Hollywood , California. | Image via shot.by.mojo
Overall, Antania should not be slept on. I highly recommend this band for anyone who’s trying to get into a new metal genre and wants something totally original. It’s an amazing band for music and art lovers, and a hell of a great time for fans who are into super heavy masked people (like me). “The God Complex” is currently out on all streaming services via the Italy/Malta Label “The Triad Recs”, but I also encourage you to check out their visualizers on YouTube to get the full Antania experience.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7i-xJKrloUk
Antania on Instagram:
www.instagram.com/antaniaofficial
© 2024, Tedfuel. All rights reserved.
