Ataraxy - Curse of the Requiem Mass (2010)

   Ataraxy's excellent debut EP brought back an authentic old school death metal feeling that was long lost since the mid '90s and only occasionally could be found at new formations. 

   Their strongly Asphyx influenced music includes a combination of features that could be called as an absolute win when it's about death metal. Dirty, noisy sound, heavy cathchy riffs combined with even catchier higher toned leading melodies, and suffocating growling vocal style. They preferred middle speed that often slows down, but occasionally intense thrashy hammering interrupts the obscure gloom. The Asphyx influenced sound, vocal style and preferred speed are creating an extremely putrid and doom referring basic tone, that's completed with the leading melodies. These partly opening further depths for desperate melancholy and down pulling sickness, and partly recalling the feeling of old school horror films. Ataraxy usually operates with simple themes, and not famous about overcomplicating anything, but at the end of the EP they've proved that they are also capable to write longer and more complex songs. In summary "Curse of the Requiem Mass" was not only well composed, but also reintroduced a high level of sick feeling that wasn't heard in the genre since a while.