Local Review: Onethium – In Agony, Aflame

Onethium
In Agony, Aflame
Self-Released
Street: 08.31
Onethium= Witchrune + Old Tower

Into the depths of darkness and eternal damnation, we find Onethium: an experimental black metal and dungeon synth local to Salt Lake City, Utah. With the release of their latest album In Agony, Aflame, one can almost feel the void of despair with chants and screams alike. This album is beautifully orchestrated to fit its name. As we dive into the void of In Agony, Aflame, we find many themes of satanism, darkness, and fear. “Blessed with Despair” starts the album off with an unholy chant, setting the theme for the rest of the album with lyrics like: “Hell is not fire and brimstone/ It is the days faded to months/ The bleak ache that is ever numb.” These poetic words illuminate the actual suffering of damnation and inflict a particular fear of what it might be like to go down under. 

The chants alone provide a visual that only some could dream of as their everlasting suffering. One unique instrument that is heard throughout the album is the use of a violin and a choir. It complements the themes previously discussed, as these instruments are listened to throughout the rest of the album. These sounds are especially perfect for “In Agony, Aflame.” The song starts with a quick tempo and has short instrumental breaks, leading to raspy, high-pitched vocals that describe what it’s like to be hellbound, chanting, “We deceive/ With dead eyes telling total lies/ Loathing thy neighbor/ stealing the fruits of his labor.” 

These guys are heavy and represent agony and suffering through distorted riffs and raw sound. “Monarch of the Void” was one of my favorites. The choir singers made me feel as if I were in a holy place where I had no belonging. The continuous raspy growls and snarls made by the vocalist were unhuman-like and truly captured the essence of a bloodhound from hell. 

Finally, “Succubyssal Torment” drastically differed from some of the other songs on the album. This song narrates a story of being devoured alive by a succubus, which is a demon entity from many folklore that is described as seducing men to take their souls. Lyrics like “Enslaved to decadence / That wicked siren kiss” capture the story portrayed through sound. One can enjoy how well Onethium can capture these themes through storytelling. It’s pretty enticing, almost as if we keep falling more into an abyss that genuinely might just be hell. 

Onethium has a unique, unconventional sound, feared by many but sought out by many black metal enthusiasts. Towards the end of the album, there are instrumental songs that can build a picture without any lyrics. This album has made me fall deeper into the black metal void with ghastly chants and heavy instrumentals from Onethium. If you want to feel like you are playing a record that might summon a demon, this is the perfect album to listen to. Make sure to always support local and follow their Bandcamp for merch and by buying their album. –Litzi Estrada

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