EP REVIEW: Akkadian – The Devil Has Evolved

Akkadian The Devil Has Evolved Album Cover Artwork

I have been given the curse of Second Sight.

Akkadian, for those who are in the know, are major players in the local heavy scene within Cambridgeshire and surrounding areas of the UK, first peering through the cracks in early 2019 with their debut single, “Black Sand”. From that point onward, they gradually climbed up towards the throne with a steady supply of subsequent singles: “Emanation”, “Agenda”, “Prisoners”, “Serpentine” and “Depraver”. More than that, they’ve played an impressive array of shows across the country, including the likes of UK Tech-Fest 2023 & Conjurer’s recent September tour with Unpeople. If their first EP, The Devil Has Evolved, proves anything, it’s that the rise of the Akkadian Empire has only just begun.

Hitting the ground running, “Second Sight” ushers the listener in with a grandiose chord-based introduction, guiding us into familiar but welcome territory when it comes to the band’s sound. Groove and blisteringly brisk beats galore are provided by drummer Aaron Wright, whose ability is probably worth an article unto himself. Synchronized gallops and frantic howls launch at us face-first in the opening verse, catching the listener off-guard and showing Akkadian at their tightest in the process. Within a minute it becomes evident that this newer material is a cut above the rest of their material. “Second Sight” is a song that keeps on giving, between the frankly danceable primal rhythms from Wright, guitarists Harry Newberry and Max Sylvestre, and bassist Chris Kontos. The impressive and believable wails of Danny Thurston permit a peek under the veil of reality. There’s a great synergy here that allows the listener to connect with the music and its message equally.

The second and titular track “The Devil Has Evolved” proves that evolution is a key word when it comes to describing this song, and the EP as a whole, as it demonstrates an unexpected change in direction that works well. Whilst Akkadian’s previous releases typically prioritised speed, “The Devil Has Evolved” showcases four minutes of deliberate and unflinching power mixed with their trademark groove. Ironically, it only gives into its carnal desire for technicality during its breakdown. Thurston teases his versatility on this track, acting as a tour guide and guardian through psychedelic visions of ancient entities with layers of panicked screams and steadfast growls. A genuinely haunting second verse makes one wonder why his clean singing is rarely utilized within the band’s discography. Synths and various otherworldly noises beyond their standard instrumentation elevate this track to epic heights, giving off a larger than life demeanour. These aid the simple yet intimidating and immensely powerful main riff, as well as the buildup and eventual payoff to the chorus. “The Devil Has Evolved” is a certified earworm that proves extremely difficult to remove from one’s brain.

Closing us out on our spiritual journey of aliens and ancient empires is a cover of Massive Attack’s “Teardrop”. Akkadian do a fairly good job at waving goodbye to the listener in an emotionally captivating way. As it steps into the shadow of Massive Attack in a (mostly) ‘metal’ way, it’s likely to be a divisive track. Thurston has me once again has me wishing for more clean singing within the band’s original material. The track rounds out The Devil Has Evolved in a strong, poignant and natural way. In the case of a band with this much confidence and technical ability, a third original capturing this more vulnerable side of the Akkadian soundscape in its place would not have gone amiss, especially to conclude a body of work that showcases some of the very best and most diverse writing the band has released to date. With seemingly only good things on the horizon, if you were to tell me that Akkadian become a big name in the future of metal, I truly would not be surprised.

8/10

The Devil Has Evolved is set for independent released this Friday, October 27th.