Skip to content
Sunday, April 2, 2023
Latest:
  • Review: WyndRider ‘WyndRider’
  • Review: Hail The Void ‘Memento Mori’
  • Review: Liturgy ‘93696’
  • Review: Morass Of Molasses ‘End All We Know’
  • Premiere: Allfather ‘A Violent Truth’ – New Album Of Sludgy Blackened Hardcore Drops This Friday
The Sleeping Shaman

The Sleeping Shaman

The 'Heavier Than Thou' Webzine

Header - Spotify Playlist

  • News
  • Album & EP Reviews
    • #
    • A
    • B
    • C
    • D
    • E
    • F
    • G
    • H
    • I
    • J
    • K
    • L
    • M
    • N
    • O
    • P
    • Q
    • R
    • S
    • T
    • U
    • V
    • W
    • X
    • Y
    • Z
  • Interviews
    • A-F
    • G-Q
    • R-Z
  • Live Reviews
  • Articles
  • Streams
  • Shaman Shop
    • Shaman Recordings
    • Vinyl Records
    • Compact Discs
    • Merch
    • Downloads
    • Basket
A Album & EP Reviews 

Review: Amenra ‘De Doorn’

22nd June 20216th August 2021 Ian M Amenra, Post-Metal, Relapse Records

Few bands in our genre garner the level of excitement that an Amenra release creates. The combination of their emotive hardcore background, blackened and tortured aesthetic and exceptionally intense live shows have made for a behemoth of the alternative in the metal world as they return with their seventh studio full length De Doorn.

Amenra ‘De Doorn’

This is the first of those releases sung and spoken entirely in frontman Colin H van Eeckhout’s first language of Flemish with additional vocals provided by Caro Tanghe of compatriots and Church of Ra kinfolk Oathbreaker. There are times that the vocal interplay between Tanghe and van Eeckhout is remarkable and elevates this record to heights that Amenra have not previously reached.

De Doorn is a record from the flames of special one-off live performances the band have played in recent years. Album closer Voor Immer (For Ever) was written for and first played at Dixmude, West Flanders in a concert to memorialise and honour the people of the region that suffered incredibly throughout World War 1, while other tracks were written for the De Kroone fire ritual performed at Menen in October 2019.

The tremendous Het Gloren mines a quiet/loud dynamic that Amenra have long found fertile ground, harking slightly back to 2012s Mass V, but with a far more ambitious scope. Whereas build led to release on that record, in this case the crash of Amenra’s signature lurching heaviness only warns of a descent back to the sparseness and stark emotional exposure of van Eeckhout’s spoken word.

It’s now beyond time for Amenra to be seen as equals, rather than upstarts amongst such vaunted company…

With long sections of only acoustic, bass and guitar accompaniment, this is another incredible triumph for a man who now sets the standard for both live and recorded vocal performances. On previous recordings such as A Solitary Reign and Aorte. Nous Sommes Du Même Sang this potential was clear but De Doorn is an incredible realisation of his talent. For further evidence of van Eeckhout’s skills see Amenra’s acoustic performance at 2021s streamed Dunk! Festival, hopefully available again through Dunk! soon.

Those wishing for a return to the heavy post-metal of the earlier years will certainly find sections of this record that sate them, the opening riff of De Evenmens, the slow chug of Ogentrost and the conclusion of Het Gloren create involuntary head nodding and foot tapping and there are many other moments that recall a different, more frenetic Amenra. But that is clearly a band that now lives in the past, admittedly a glorious past as anyone at the absurdly relentless and energetic 2013 London Garage show can attest to.

This iteration is a band that have learnt from their influences and tour buddies, such as on the Neurosis and Converge 2018 US tour. It’s now beyond time for Amenra to be seen as equals, rather than upstarts amongst such vaunted company.

Label: Relapse Records
Band Links: Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram

Scribed by: Ian M

  • ← Review: Iceburn ‘Asclepius’
  • Review: Kilter ‘Sys’ EP →

You May Also Like

Collision ‘The Final Kill’

Review: Collision ‘The Final Kill’

8th April 20201st May 2020 Matt Alexander
Review

Sons Of Tonatiuh – ST – CD/LP 2010

28th January 20112nd September 2019 Mark Hunt-Bryden
Review

RABBITS ‘Untoward’ LP/DD 2014

11th September 20142nd September 2019 Guido Segers

Basket

Shaman T-Shirt & Beanie

Shaman T-Shirt & Beanie

Latest StreamsView All

Premiere: Allfather ‘A Violent Truth’ – New Album Of Sludgy Blackened Hardcore Drops This Friday
Featured Streams 

Premiere: Allfather ‘A Violent Truth’ – New Album Of Sludgy Blackened Hardcore Drops This Friday

29th March 202329th March 2023 Lee Edwards

It’s that midpoint of yet another mundane working week, so what better way to break up the monotony than pulverising

Premiere: TankZilla ‘Wrong Place’ – From Their Self-Titled Debut Album That Drops 19th May
Featured Streams 

Premiere: TankZilla ‘Wrong Place’ – From Their Self-Titled Debut Album That Drops 19th May

28th March 202328th March 2023 Lee Edwards
Video Premiere: Sandrider ‘Enveletration’ – New Album Of Abrasive Noise-Rock Is Out Now
Featured Streams 

Video Premiere: Sandrider ‘Enveletration’ – New Album Of Abrasive Noise-Rock Is Out Now

27th March 202328th March 2023 Lee Edwards
Premiere: Grub Nap ‘God Pile’ – Debut EP Drops Tomorrow, 17th March, via Human Worth
Featured Streams 

Premiere: Grub Nap ‘God Pile’ – Debut EP Drops Tomorrow, 17th March, via Human Worth

16th March 202316th March 2023 Lee Edwards

Must Attend

Roadburn Festival 2023

Weirdo Canyon Dispatch

Weirdo Canyon Dispatch

About

The Sleeping Shaman
After a long hiatus The Sleeping Shaman is back. Although we don’t aim to set the world on fire, the plan is to bring you the latest news, reviews and interviews from the 'heavier than thou' underground.

Information

  • Disclaimer
  • FAQ
  • Get Involved
  • Payment & Delivery Info
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Quick Links

  • Album & EP Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Articles
  • Live Reviews
  • Streams
  • Shaman Shop

Get Involved

Wanna Get Involved
© 2005 - 2023 The Sleeping Shaman // Artwork by CAVUM. All rights reserved.