Review by Allan on June 12, 2002.

It is always nice to come across something that there is less of in the metal scene, even if it isn’t completely unique and creative. Axamenta are a fantasy-based metal band that while somewhat derivative, really aren’t too bad. “Codex Barathri” is a good try, but only barely manages to stay afloat amongst today’s bands.

The band isn’t a complete letdown. In fact, they have quite a bit going for them. One of the strongest things they have to them is that they have a good melodic edge. Usually the guitars are doing some rhythm-based work, and the keyboards handle the leads. I’ll tell you right now, if you aren’t a fan of keyboard influenced metal, get out! But, if you find yourself being able to handle them on some level, you’ll be glad to know that the music is fairly even in terms of instrumentation. They don’t just pile symphonic elements on top of the music so that the rest of the instruments aren’t buried beneath the keyboards. The band does a nice job of moving into more epic proportions during their generally mid-paced tempo music. I quite enjoyed the piano itself in different parts instead of the keys. This added a completely new flavor to the songs. Another facet that improves the music is that the songs never dwell on the same section as to put the listener to sleep. The sections vary enough to keep interesting. Axamenta really possess some strong elements inside their song writing, but that doesn’t always mean the content is excellent.

Every band has its downs though. I can’t help but find Axamenta somewhat predictable on a level. You seem to realize what is coming next, and the next song or passage is never a surprise. Another gripe of mine is that the vocals are very boring and monotonous. For this type of music, the band could easily bring in some nice clean vocals. To no surprise, they opted to use black metal shrieks with the occasional death grunt. Pathetic I say. It just doesn’t really do the music any justice. You might as well not even have vocals with this music. Another down side to “Codex Barathri” is that half way through it just becomes kind of boring. You never feel like it’s taking you anywhere. At the end of the day it just comes down to the fact that Axamenta don’t have that intangible ‘something’ that makes them an outfit that will be listened to more than occasionally.

Bottom Line: I see potential in this band, but for now “Codex Barathri” serves as a barely passable album in today’s scene. It’s got some excellent moments in it and has the ability to be an album that some people could love. Not for me though. I await the bands next album to see in what ways they have improved.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Originality: 4
Musicianship: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Production: 4
Overall: 5

Rating: 4.6 out of 10

Review by Adam M on June 15, 2020.

Deathwhite have created a very interesting doom metal album with their newest release Grave Image. The songs are morose and feature a good deal of emotion. This is very appropriate for the time as there aren’t many other albums like this at the moment. The tracks move along at a medium pace and manage to remain intriguing at all points.

The band is comparable to the likes of Draconian and similar bands with their doom metal that has some metal elements from other genres such as gothic. These come in when the band switches tempo, but the vocals in particular point towards a doom release. Songs like 'Among Us' are catchy and will remain ingrained in your brain. Indeed, this album is very accessible and features a very welcoming sound. It is still very sad sounding and this atmosphere permeates every note the band performs. I still think the music could be improved upon with a more forward thinking mindset as the songs sound a bit standard at times and could be spruced up with more interesting ideas. Still things rollick along at a nice pace and manage to remain gripping, even if they are fairly straightforward sounding. As far as doom releases this year, this remains one of the best of the year so far and is a completely unique and moving experience. 

Though it is not the best release the genre has ever seen, there are enough atmospheric elements to make this a compelling and wholly worthwhile release. With more emphasis on progressive tendencies it could be even better, but Grave Image remains thoughtful enough regardless. The album is well rounded and features a good grasp of many metal elements for a complete experience overall. It is thus recommended to doom metal fans as they will really like what they hear.

Rating: 7.7 out of 10