Acherozu - 萬劫之海 / Vendetta Ocean (Retrospective Review)

Written by: Blackie Skulless

​We love when I can stumble on something that crosses off two interests in one, that being extreme metal and China. Though I’ve been through my share of heavy metal that’s been cooked up in the Sinosphere, Shenyang’s Acherozu strikes a chord like none I’ve yet encountered. Having been around for over a decade, they have few releases to their name, but the latest, 2019’s 萬劫之海 / Vendetta Ocean is what sold me on them. Mythology under a black/thrash scope is the name of the game, and I’m here to play.

For starters, it’s almost uncanny how clean things come off despite the nasty style and the intimidating artwork. Typically I shy away from that, but thankfully it’s not overdone, and it instead helps the best parts stand out. Acherozu has a keen ear for melody at just the right spots in an otherwise dark and desolate setting, typically with lead guitars working in a side lick that rides parallel with the vocals. Similarly, those come through comprehensively because of the mix, coating a throaty snarl of ancient Chinese poetics beside mean but steady riffage.

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As fast as things can get, I tend to find the calmer parts of 萬劫之海 / Vendetta Ocean to be my favorites. “Abkana” is a standout, marching through with its sharp and unsettling rhythms that work in higher leads that don’t overtake the stage. I’d also argue that the band sneaks in the break-down type riffing nicely, letting it disguise itself under the black/thrash umbrella. You can find this in “Barbaric Power” and in the opener “Demon Phantom”; the former’s double-bass kicks pair with this beautifully. Closer “Broken Waves” scratches an epic itch, which admittedly would have paired better with the soothing “Jurgan,” being a soft acoustic number, sung in Mandarin. This sticks out from the bunch significantly, but at least it’s a good tune. Perhaps all of this sounds overwhelming, but they stitch things together nicely, with minimal meandering going on.
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If there are any complaints to be had, it’s that the drums could have been taken down a notch in the mix, being the only thing that feels just a little too clean in delivery. The kicks themselves are incredible, and if not for that and some bumpy transitions, this would be perfect. Regardless, what an extremely pleasant spin, and the war-drenched historical lore was simply an added bonus. Fans of Bewitched, Diabolic Night, and later era Warbringer should feel right at home here.

​Acherozu - 萬劫之海 / Vendetta Ocean was released Sept. 28th, 2019 via Talheim Records. Find it on bandcamp here!

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​Acherozu can be found Bandcamp and Facebook