Artist: Massen
Title: Contraesthetic
Label: Apostasy Records
Cat #: CDARC055
Release Year: 2021
Duration: Album
Format: CD
Packaging Type: Digipak

Contraesthetic is the debut full length album from the  Symphonic/Melodic Black Metal band Massen.

A conflicting elegance between atmosphere and fury

A dark space in the heart of Belarus filled with unique melodies, black/death metal intensity and engaging sounds. MASSEN from Minsk are creating their own niche within the jar of melodic extreme metal. This does not only go for their instrumental content, but also for their lyrics. These are delivered in Belarusian, which makes them even more emotional in every way. You can hear all the aggression as well as all the desire through their words and voices. The best way to describe their music is “ContrAesthetic”, the title of their Apostasy Records debut.

In ‘Cold Clouds’ frantically fast parts alternate with epic and melodic ones while ‘A Step To Silence’ prepares for the emotional and epic end after its brutal start. The opus magnum is the title track which comes in two parts and is like a swirl of feelings.

The album was recorded in their homeland Belarus and mixed / mastered in Estonia while the strong artwork was done by Costin Chioreanu (Arch Enemy, At The Gates, Night In Gales …).

Recommended if you like: Arkona, Moonsorrow, Ensiferum, Ne Obliviscaris, Deicide, Dimme Borgir, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Septicflesh

Track Listing:
1. The Depth
2. Cold Clouds
3. A Step To Silence
4. By Water To The Sun
5. The Flock Of Whores
6. Contraesthetics Pt. 1
7. Contraesthetics Pt. 2