On February 3rd internationally, Personal Records will release a new double-EP from Carathis, Amethyst & Moonstone, on CD format. And today, the Black Metal Promotion YouTube channel streams the double-EP in its entirety. Hear Carathis‘ Amethyst & Moonstone in its entirety exclusively HERE.
Carathis‘ second release for Personal, Amethyst & Moonstone includes two EP recordings – 2021’s The Amethyst Fortress, previously only available digitally, and the otherwise-unreleased The Moonstone Temple – totaling 45 minutes across nine tracks. Truly, these two recordings see Carathis hitting a fever pitch of creativity. Whereas the band upon their Hymns to the Tower debut EP (later released by Personal as a split with Sulfure) were a duo, on The Amethyst Fortress is the band now back to mainman Erech Leleth, who concurrently plays in labelmates Grandeur as well as Ancient Mastery, Narzissus, and Golden Blood. As such, Leleth takes the Carathis sound to uncharted mysticism and splendor. The first five tracks on this collection belong to The Amethyst Fortress, which is aptly titled, for a purple-velvet sensation arises from its grim hysteria, creating a unique disconnect amidst the nowadays “Bandcamp black metal” scene. Clearer and more cutting is the four-song The Moonstone Temple, which follows next on this CD, and features Palisade on drums. The medieval organs are even more prominent here, often leading the charge and yet never softening the central attack. It might be tempting to qualify Carathis at this stage as symphonic black metal, no matter how raw they remain, but more accurately could one put the band alongside other organ-prominent practitioners like early Solefald and Sigh or even Negura Bunget and the brass-led Sear Bliss. But, it’s early days still for Carathis, and Erech Leleth is already proving to be a formidable entity with Amethyst & Moonstone.
In the leadup to its international release this Friday, hear Amethyst & Moonstone in its entirety exclusively HERE, courtesy of the Black Metal Promotion YouTube channel. Preorder info can be found HERE. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:
Tracklisting for Carathis’ Amethyst & Moonstone
1. The Sacred Walls
2. The Crimson Gate
3. The Forsaken Realm
4. The Fallen Star
5. The Amethyst Fortess
6. The Portal
7. The Procession
8. The Prayer
9. The Priestess