OUTLAW – REACHING BEYOND ASSIAH

Outlaw sounds like a name befitting of a ‘70s influenced trad metal band, but alas this is melodic black metal formed in Brazil. Reaching Beyond Assiah is the trio’s third full-length and first under AOP Records.

Outlaw will definitely remind of Watain and Dissection, but they attack with a mid-paced force while building up a sinister atmosphere. Opener “Bliss Of Soul” is like being sucked into a black hole with a spectral, menacing mid-paced effort with a hopeless atmosphere. The trio doesn’t back down from long songs – six of the seven cuts are at least 6 minutes making for a runtime of almost 45 minutes and for the most part it works – “To Burn This World And Dissolve The Flesh” moves through different tempos with screeching solos and slight violin work in the mid-section, but it cranks best in the beginning and end with a sturdy groove resembling trad metal.

“Beyond The Realms Of God” roars with furious energy after a 2 minute build up and stands out amongst the seven cuts as does the ripping “Everything That Becomes Nothing” is the shortest shot at 4:35 and an album like this could have used some more burners. Outlaw loves to utilize blastbeats and kick drumming to accentuate the spacey, cosmic environment the guitars employ – getting lost in a mid-paced wickedness – which is all well and good, but grows weary when overused. Convincing speed to offset the rumbling, stalking broodiness would work wonders to Reaching Beyond Assiah.