Reaver- Eternal Psychonaut

ARTIST: Reaver

ALBUM: Eternal Psychonaut

LABEL: Radio-Active-Music

REVIEWER: Matthew J.

DATE: 5-1-10

Reaver's debut full-length manages to successfully combine the dark atmospheres and occult themes of modern terror EBM with the melodies and triumphalism of more melodic acts like VNV Nation, which is no small feat. Drawing heavily on chaos magic and the work of Aleister Crowley, Reaver's lyrics are less interested in scaring you than in inspiring you; title track "Eternal Psychonaut" is an ode to humanism couched in mystic terms. "In this grey matter," it tells us, "Are all the secrets that were lost in time / The Elder Gods, the inner light / And we will never give up the fight." If Reaver's lyrical themes are unexpectedly optimistic, the music is still pure EBM, ranging from old school offerings like the floor-pounding "Blackened Skies" to more orchestral offerings like "Tyranny with a Smile." Fans of harsher stuff will appreciate the apocalyptic "End of Days" with its panning trance synths and guttural vocoders that evoke terror EBM atmosphere without going overboard, and "Choronzon," a mid-tempo club track that amps up the rasping aggression and demonic imagery. Epic closing track "Aeon" brings all of Reaver's disparate elements together. Starting off as moody electronic ambiance, it segues first into a slick pulsing beat layered with gothic-inspired baritone vocals, then phases into electro-tinged robotic effects, and finishes up with brutal terror EBM. An impressive debut, this album retains all the elements that'll keep EBM fans happy and club-goers on the dance floor while also bringing a rare depth of thought to the genre.

Enter the new aeon on MySpace at www.myspace.com/reavermusik for more information.