Review by Trevor Proctor.
There are very few labels that come close to Iron Bonehead Productions when it comes to sniffing out new and obscure bands from across the globe. Over the years the label has been responsible for bringing an amazing amount of underground music to a wider audience and one of many recent examples is this debut demo by Aparthiva Raktadhara - Agyat Ishvar which has just been released as a 7” EP.
The Indian underground has been growing of late and one band from Kalikshetra that should need no introduction is the immensely talented Tetragrammacide who have a number of releases including their debut album, ‘Primal Incinerators of Moral Matrix’ which was released by Iron Bonehead Productions in November 2017. This album was so good it received 10/10 here at The Lair of Filth and was also placed at number three in my year end album listing.
Now, Kalikshetra is set to receive more attention and further cement its rightful place in the underground with Aparthiva Raktadhara whose music shows both talent and violence in equal measures.
Kalikshetra is the archaic name for Kolkata, West Bengal and three bands currently operate under the banner of Kalikshetra Raktachakra – Tetragrammacide, Necrodeity and Aparthiva Raktadhara. At the time of writing relatively little is known about Aparthiva Raktadhara with the earliest online record seeming to be a band picture taken in late 2017, the band comprises three members – Takshaka who performs strings, V.Hydra performing drums and Nahash who performs various mantras.
Agyat Ishvar was mixed and mastered by AnantaShesha, the cover art is the creation of Omega Capricornus Art, the layout was designed by Qayin Mandala Graphex and the band’s logo was created by Leprous Hands Arts.
Aparthiva Raktadhara also dedicated this recording to Soror Andahadna (NEMA – R.I. P.).
Agyat Ishvar opens with ‘Blood Oblation to Ista-Devata,’ which serves as a dark scene setting intro featuring spoken word Indian text amidst background effects and noises but it’s when the second track, ‘Dismal Anahata Transmissions,’ begins that we’re faced with the violent and chaotic assault from Aparthiva Raktadhara’s music.
From the first note onward there’s no release or mercy from Aparthiva Raktadhara whose music aggressively combines War, Death and Black metal elements with devastating effect. The production levels are deliberately harsh, giving the EP a primitive/bestial sound which could be compared to earlier Tetragrammacide releases, a sound that matches this style of music perfectly. Yet, amidst what seems like chaos there is undoubtedly a lot of musical genius and this thirteen minute EP is not to be missed.
Agyat Ishvar was perfectly summed up by the press release that stated, “In a swift 13 minutes, the power-trio's opening salvo blasts and twists and swirls with feral, frightening intent; just its sheer, Spartan overload of violence alone is stultifying enough. But within that maelstrom, Aparthiva Raktadhara has carefully cultivated a sort of order from chaos, with occult mathematics seemingly employed to elevate each messy-on-the-surface angularity into a stridently martial attack.”
With closing track, ‘Proclamations of the Empty’ available to stream below there’s no need for any further description of Aparthiva Raktadhara’s music. Despite lasting thirteen minutes this EP shows an abundance of talent and promise and the excellent news is this is only the beginning for this very talented band.
Granted, I’ve no doubt both the production and style of music featured aren’t suited to everyone’s tastes but if you’re a fan of harsh sonic violence by the likes of Jyotiṣavedāṅga, Kapala and Tetragrammacide you’ll not hesitate in snapping this up.
A phenomenal debut release from Aparthiva Raktadhara that further cements the reputation of the Kalikshetra Raktachakra 10/10.
Tracklist:
01 - Blood Oblation to Ista-Devata
02 - Dismal Anahata Transmissions
03 - Proclamations of the Empty.
Agyat Ishvar by Aparthiva Raktadhara is currently available from Iron Bonehead Productions by following this link.
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