Review by Adam M on July 1, 2012.

The new Ihsahn greatly progresses in a direction that might have been expected following "After". More progressive and aggressive in nature, it’s the perfect fit for the present time Ihsahn. There are guest vocalists and more varied song structures and instrumentation than the last album. I also think "Eremita" is more consistent than its predecessor with no major weak moments to be found.

There aren’t songs of the ballad nature of 'Undercurrent' to be found here, however. Instead, there are some cracking up-tempo pieces like the opener 'Arrival' that give the album a generally more excited feel. The song 'The Grave' is a lumbering doomy exception to this mood. The progressive nature of many of the songs recalls the likes of later Emperor, such as the album "Prometheus". There is still that jazzy element present as well that sometimes makes use of saxophones, but it’s not as present as on the album. Regardless, Ihsahn has certainly found his niche within Progressive Black Metal genre as a solo artist. His albums are actually more similar to what a group might perform than what a typical solo artist would. He’s quite developed in the song-writing department now and able to craft a number of interesting moments with little effort. The only minor complaint I have with the album is that the beginning portions are stronger than the ending, which becomes slightly too strange for its own good.

Still, there are many standout moments to become enraptured with on this newest opus from Ihsahn and it will certainly be a contender for album of the year. For fans of Ihsahn’s previous material with either Emperor or as a solo artist, "Eremita" is a no-brainer as a purchase.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9.5
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9.5
Originality: 9
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.3 out of 10

Review by JD on September 8, 2013.

At times there is a glut of average metal that floods on to my desk, and I shake my head with disgust. Average metal does not cut it for me any more, not after so many years in the business playing, writing and promoting metal. I need that certain band that blows me away from the very start, and gets my heart pumping.

Netherlands’ Aratron has come along to try and get my metal juices flowing. Playing Thrash inspired Death Metal; the five song demo here tries to rip your face off from the very starting pulse of the music. Sadly, the music never does do, nor does it do anything even remotely close to even lightly entertain me. It basically explodes on the launch pad, and proceeds to crumble like a house of cards in a wind storm.

Playing some middle-of-the-road, uninspired Old Styled Death Metal – I found myself nodding off a time or two. Using riffs ripped off of every classic DM band, then played with no sense of conviction or passion and topped with a vocalist that struggled with every line – I , uh…ZZZZZZ. Sorry – I was extremely underwhelmed and was so fucking glad when the disk ended and silence filled my ears once more.

The only upside was that this was recorded very well despite the horrible music – but made it even harder to ignore the brutal reality of a band that was below average in every category. I think I will give this disk for the dog for her to use as a chew toy or hopefully bury it in a field I don’t know about, and save myself from ever hearing Aratron ever again.

I will pop in Death’s classic "Scream Bloody Gore" and refresh my wounded metallic heart of something that is good and played that way.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 3.5
Atmosphere: 2
Production: 7
Originality: 1
Overall: 2

Rating: 3.1 out of 10

Review by JD on September 8, 2013.

At times there is a glut of average metal that floods on to my desk, and I shake my head with disgust. Average metal does not cut it for me any more, not after so many years in the business playing, writing and promoting metal. I need that certain band that blows me away from the very start, and gets my heart pumping.

Netherlands’ Aratron has come along to try and get my metal juices flowing. Playing Thrash inspired Death Metal; the five song demo here tries to rip your face off from the very starting pulse of the music. Sadly, the music never does do, nor does it do anything even remotely close to even lightly entertain me. It basically explodes on the launch pad, and proceeds to crumble like a house of cards in a wind storm.

Playing some middle-of-the-road, uninspired Old Styled Death Metal – I found myself nodding off a time or two. Using riffs ripped off of every classic DM band, then played with no sense of conviction or passion and topped with a vocalist that struggled with every line – I , uh…ZZZZZZ. Sorry – I was extremely underwhelmed and was so fucking glad when the disk ended and silence filled my ears once more.

The only upside was that this was recorded very well despite the horrible music – but made it even harder to ignore the brutal reality of a band that was below average in every category. I think I will give this disk for the dog for her to use as a chew toy or hopefully bury it in a field I don’t know about, and save myself from ever hearing Aratron ever again.

I will pop in Death’s classic "Scream Bloody Gore" and refresh my wounded metallic heart of something that is good and played that way.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 3.5
Atmosphere: 2
Production: 7
Originality: 1
Overall: 2

Rating: 3.1 out of 10

Review by JD on September 8, 2013.

At times there is a glut of average metal that floods on to my desk, and I shake my head with disgust. Average metal does not cut it for me any more, not after so many years in the business playing, writing and promoting metal. I need that certain band that blows me away from the very start, and gets my heart pumping.

Netherlands’ Aratron has come along to try and get my metal juices flowing. Playing Thrash inspired Death Metal; the five song demo here tries to rip your face off from the very starting pulse of the music. Sadly, the music never does do, nor does it do anything even remotely close to even lightly entertain me. It basically explodes on the launch pad, and proceeds to crumble like a house of cards in a wind storm.

Playing some middle-of-the-road, uninspired Old Styled Death Metal – I found myself nodding off a time or two. Using riffs ripped off of every classic DM band, then played with no sense of conviction or passion and topped with a vocalist that struggled with every line – I , uh…ZZZZZZ. Sorry – I was extremely underwhelmed and was so fucking glad when the disk ended and silence filled my ears once more.

The only upside was that this was recorded very well despite the horrible music – but made it even harder to ignore the brutal reality of a band that was below average in every category. I think I will give this disk for the dog for her to use as a chew toy or hopefully bury it in a field I don’t know about, and save myself from ever hearing Aratron ever again.

I will pop in Death’s classic "Scream Bloody Gore" and refresh my wounded metallic heart of something that is good and played that way.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 3.5
Atmosphere: 2
Production: 7
Originality: 1
Overall: 2

Rating: 3.1 out of 10