Originally unleashed in October 2022, AARA‘s digital EP “Phthonos” is now available via Debemur Morti Productions on 7” vinyl. Although these two unorthodox melodic Black Metal pieces were created during recording sessions for the ongoing “Triade” trilogy, they stand alone perfectly, revealing a band experimenting with their sound and musical vision.
Composer Berg notes:
“The two songs of the “Phthonos” EP were created during the recording session of “Triade III: Nyx“, but deliberately intended for a different context. When you pull three albums over one concept, there is a need to try something different. In that respect, both songs were very spontaneous decisions. Furthermore, our drummer and sound engineer J. no longer has enough time to take care of the production of AARA‘s music, so we must look for an external recording studio to do the mixing and mastering in the future. The “Phthonos” EP which was produced by Markus Stock (EMPYRIUM, ALCEST) was ideal for a first attempt.“
Listen to “Phthonos” via Bandcamp or on our YouTube channel:
Acclaimed webzine No Clean Singing praised AARA‘s compositions for their vitality:
“‘Phthonos I‘ is a racing blaze of sound so glorious and electrifying that it should make hearts swell, and the ringing lead-guitar melodies are powerfully alluring. But it also takes us on some dark and disturbing digressions, and even the blaze begins to sound distraught. The elegant but haunting guitar harmony that launches ‘Phthonos II‘ creates a sudden contrast, but soon enough the power swells, and a storm breaks open. This song also includes alluring and memorable (but moody) melodies (some of them soft and sublime) as well as some startling, grand chords and bounding beats, but the overarching atmosphere is one of madness and fear, peril and pain — right up until this song also blazes and soars.“
“Phthonos” is available as a 7” EP via the label’s EU, US and Bandcamp shops. A matching enamel pin accompanies the release.
Switzerland’s AARA was founded in 2018 by vocalist Fluss and multi-instrumentalist Berg to create art highly influenced by atmospheric Black Metal. Sporting an epic, classical feel, their sweeping compositions aim to take the listener through the darkest alleys of human existence.
Soon after releasing their debut record “So fallen alle Tempel” in early 2019, AARA joined forces with Debemur Morti Productions, releasing their mosaic EP “Anthropozän” that same year.
Barely a year after their debut, AARA unveiled a new full-length record in April of 2020. A conceptual look into Europe’s Age of Enlightenment, “En Ergô Einai” sees AARA take their accomplished sound to new heights of mature artistic expression. Opened with a haunting acoustic intro courtesy of Vindsval (BLUT AUS NORD), “En Ergô Einai” is a triumph of fluid melodic euphoria and classical elegance, setting an even higher watermark in a bright, young discography. The third album and beginning of a trilogy, namely “Triade I: Eos“, was released in March 2021. In this epic and dramatic new work of art, AARA are interpreting the Gothic novel “Melmoth The Wanderer” (1820) of Irish writer Charles Robert Maturin.
Venturing forth into the next chapters of Maturin‘s work, AARA crafted the second part of their trilogy, “Triade II: Hemera“. The six tracks of brutally melodic, top-tier Black Metal was released in May 2022. The third and final album of the Melmoth trilogy will see the light of day on March 31st, 2023.