review by: Tom Orgad

Applying principles of various extreme metal genres, Antarctica depict a human world ruled by militant values. According to the group of Norse metallers, humanity’s attempts of establishing firm moral foundations to base its existence upon has failed miserably. The viral, parasitical mechanism of war effortlessly invades every realm of our perception, relentlessly surrenders us to its mischievous, innate inertial progression. It enslaves and mutilates every primeval, optimistic idea of natural affinity or rationally-achieved, fruitful cooperative being.

These ideas are represented by the distinctive, uncompromising drumming. While the melodic and atmospheric entities in the group, embodied mostly by guitar parts, feature the distant presence of eternity, every attempt of liberated, creative expression is swiftly captured and mutated by the enslaving narrative of the stifled marching drumwork. It shatters all hope, aggressively and unopposedly abolishing every glimmer of positive ideological freedom.

Compared to their previous work (review here), Antarctica’s latest seems to aim for a larger crowd. The songs on their current demo has become more concise and focused. Previously featuring a palatable amalgamation of death, thrash and black metal, the band has obviously decided to try and join a defined, focused sub-genre, choosing death metal, thus losing some of the epic and atmospheric lushness as well as harmonic diversity their music had in the past.

The production has notably taken a flatter, thinner approach, putting a proper emphasis on the somehow improved, tighter instrumental performance of the band. The main drawback is that while giving much attention to aesthetics, the band has neglected the compositional aspect, as the album lacks any fresh, innovative ideas - a forgivable notion, though, considering the fact that the band has so far released nothing but demos.

Overall, even if yet to be improved, a worthy release that leaves us awaiting the debut LP by the band. (6/10)