Alukta – Merok
Release Date: 2nd May 2025
Label: Transcendance
Bandcamp
Genre: Doom Metal, Ritual Black Metal, Black Metal.
FFO: The Runes of Beverast, Esoteric, Wolves in the Throne Room, Myrkur, Hulder, Evoken.
Review By: Rick Farley
Alukta, the ritualistic, doomy black metal duo birthed in 2023, out of a mourning period that was mixed with a need for exploring old tribal customs. The haunting, dark, grim soundscapes from their debut album Merok is set for release via Transcendance. Composed of Marie (Brouillard, Vertige) of France and Déhà (Slow, Wolvennest) of Belgium, the concept of Merok is inspired by the Toraja people and their quite special funeral rites, as well as cults or death in general.
“Alukta is grief, but also relief through rituals and ancestral traditions.”
Merok as a whole, is a challenging listen at first, not such much for its length, it’s a near perfect forty-one minutes, but rather for its constant dismal atmosphere. There are flourishes of folky, peaceful passages that seem serene enough to be calming, but it’s more of the beguiling type of calm where just around the corner always awaits mourning or daunting melancholy. It’s numbing, ritualistic droning nature carries on at a snail pace for a good portion of the record, offering up walls of sustained chords and spellbinding melodies wrapping its wicked claws around your throat. Des Teintes d’éternité is a fitting example of this, where the track balances the beautiful and the foul while always maintaining its sinister intent.
Their gloomy approach to their ceremonial black metal was decided upon as a way to incorporate ghostly clean female vocals that express deep primitive feelings as well as horrifying shrieks that are near sounding painfully tortured. The shrieks and chanting cleans of Kombengi offset each other wickedly, creating an atmosphere that will possess as well as seduce. It’s a terrifying sonic landscape to have; a slow moving colossal wave of distortion with searing tremolo picked guitars and the ungodly mix of the ugly and the divine. Its haziness cast over your brow, causing you to close your eyes and feel the rawness of sorrow overwhelming your flesh. Your conscience, your spirituality, and your present state of being are all affected as if you’re part of some incantation.
The swaying atmosphere of Merok is so airy that you hardly feel the repetitive nature of the drums drudging slowly and the guitars ringing out massive, sustained chords. The reality of it is, you may find yourself close to the end of the record before you even realize it. It’s one of the many strengths that make this such an intriguing listen.
Closing track Exuvia has a transcending movement that’s evocative, heavy, and archaic sounding. Like ancient gods coming through the netherworld, while you are frozen in existence, silent and disconnected as they move beyond your immediate presence to offer up their services to the ominous darkness that surrounds us all. Strange clean wailing soars over the stomping, supernatural feel of the track, like a witch vocalizing her malevolent sorcery. Chilling.
Honestly, there’s not much more I can say to sell you on this record, this is truly an experience you should have for yourself. The record sounds raw and nasty, but yet warm and inviting. Once this clicks in, Alukta’s ritual black metal journey is one that will open your eyes and soul to another world full of engulfing doom and folky spirit. Easy recommend.
(4.5 / 5)
