Review by Adam M on December 13, 2016.

Meshiaak performs a very modern form of thrash. There are certainly other styles blended into their overall mix like hardcore. This is because of the very upfront sound that has a heavy bass presence. The sound is similar to the other hardcore influenced band that I can think of Sylosis as much as it is older Metallica.

This full bodied sound certainly has an impact, however, because there haven’t been many great thrash releases this year. When inspecting it next to the new Anthrax, one can see less of a classical orientation and more of the modern position. The production is crisp and helps put the massive guitar riffs at the forefront. Musicianship is just as rigidly accomplished with tight guitars taking the place above solid drumming. One can worship the musicianship on the track It Burns at Both Ends where there is some interesting guitar interplay. This is entirely the type of thrash release that needs to be played to fill in the gap for this type of release this year. Although Revocation did release an album, the more modern thrash definitely goes along with that classic sound performed by Anthrax and Death Angel. There is simply that sheen that has the edge of these recent bands and elevates the album up into the higher registers of the albums of the year. The thing that prevents this from being an altogether beast of an album is perhaps this hardcore aspect the band has. It makes them sound sort of simple when compared to the Anthrax, for example.

However, the amount of variation and hugeness of the riffs does take this release and place it with that one as the two best from the genre this year. It is nice to have one release of each type of thrash at the top of the heap this year. It should be noted that those that enjoy grunge will find something to like with Alliance of Thieves as well. As a debut release this is very strong stuff.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Adam M on December 13, 2016.

Meshiaak performs a very modern form of thrash. There are certainly other styles blended into their overall mix like hardcore. This is because of the very upfront sound that has a heavy bass presence. The sound is similar to the other hardcore influenced band that I can think of Sylosis as much as it is older Metallica.

This full bodied sound certainly has an impact, however, because there haven’t been many great thrash releases this year. When inspecting it next to the new Anthrax, one can see less of a classical orientation and more of the modern position. The production is crisp and helps put the massive guitar riffs at the forefront. Musicianship is just as rigidly accomplished with tight guitars taking the place above solid drumming. One can worship the musicianship on the track It Burns at Both Ends where there is some interesting guitar interplay. This is entirely the type of thrash release that needs to be played to fill in the gap for this type of release this year. Although Revocation did release an album, the more modern thrash definitely goes along with that classic sound performed by Anthrax and Death Angel. There is simply that sheen that has the edge of these recent bands and elevates the album up into the higher registers of the albums of the year. The thing that prevents this from being an altogether beast of an album is perhaps this hardcore aspect the band has. It makes them sound sort of simple when compared to the Anthrax, for example.

However, the amount of variation and hugeness of the riffs does take this release and place it with that one as the two best from the genre this year. It is nice to have one release of each type of thrash at the top of the heap this year. It should be noted that those that enjoy grunge will find something to like with Alliance of Thieves as well. As a debut release this is very strong stuff.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Adam M on December 13, 2016.

Meshiaak performs a very modern form of thrash. There are certainly other styles blended into their overall mix like hardcore. This is because of the very upfront sound that has a heavy bass presence. The sound is similar to the other hardcore influenced band that I can think of Sylosis as much as it is older Metallica.

This full bodied sound certainly has an impact, however, because there haven’t been many great thrash releases this year. When inspecting it next to the new Anthrax, one can see less of a classical orientation and more of the modern position. The production is crisp and helps put the massive guitar riffs at the forefront. Musicianship is just as rigidly accomplished with tight guitars taking the place above solid drumming. One can worship the musicianship on the track It Burns at Both Ends where there is some interesting guitar interplay. This is entirely the type of thrash release that needs to be played to fill in the gap for this type of release this year. Although Revocation did release an album, the more modern thrash definitely goes along with that classic sound performed by Anthrax and Death Angel. There is simply that sheen that has the edge of these recent bands and elevates the album up into the higher registers of the albums of the year. The thing that prevents this from being an altogether beast of an album is perhaps this hardcore aspect the band has. It makes them sound sort of simple when compared to the Anthrax, for example.

However, the amount of variation and hugeness of the riffs does take this release and place it with that one as the two best from the genre this year. It is nice to have one release of each type of thrash at the top of the heap this year. It should be noted that those that enjoy grunge will find something to like with Alliance of Thieves as well. As a debut release this is very strong stuff.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by adhlactha on April 21, 2020.

Every four years Öxxö Xööx present new release and last year they didn’t break the tradition. Here is the album with laconic name Ÿ. French avant-garde masters returned with strong and particularly innovative material and no one expected the opposite. With such a powerful line-up (band’s members play in experimental and extraordinary band Igorrr), there’s almost hour and a half of dark and sophisticated avant-garde music.

Ÿ is full of funeral atmosphere and symphonic and epic heaviness. The doomy and melancholic aura is perfect with sad and passionate female vocals of Rïcïnn and in contrast to lead male mournful, almost operatic singing of Laurent Lunoir (Öxxö Xööx), this album creates abstract gothic ambiance, especially when they sing together. The guitar riffs are rich, but synthetic excerpts soften the sound, and emotional singing makes the music deep and meaningful. Every song is a lamentation for nature to motivate listeners to be kinder to our dying Earth. Songs change in different pace, but not accidentally or spontaneously, the change is smooth and intense at the same time. There are some passages with almost funeral doom influence, songs are kept mid tempo mostly, but not like in gothic/doom classical bands (My Dying Bride), yet there are some furious crazy moments (and Igorrr’s band Whourkr comes to mind with all their rapid aggressive frenzy).

The band again used their own fictional language (also English as well) to emphasize their originality. The fictional language sounds very harsh and creepy and that’s just one of creative features of the band. Not only their manifold music is unique, singing in strange language makes Öxxö Xööx incomparable. The use of synthesizers and samples is significant, but the metal foundation is the basic here, keyboards just add more mournful and tragic supplement, so the mood is dark and painful (like in the song 'NS2'). Songs are long, but not tiresome thanks to various mixes of changing mood (like in the song 'Döld'), competent use of vocal patterns (there are often three layers of vocal lines) and technical playing of instruments. The sound is clean without a quirk, so every instrument or singing line is clear. There are some fans, which compare the music of Öxxö Xööx with music of Devin Townsend, but only in a way that they are both too unique and are not afraid to experiment and try something new. I think Öxxö Xööx don’t float away from metal genre (like Devin used to do) so there’s no reason to compare these two. Öxxö Xööx chose their own path, and with every new album they evolve and change a little bit.

In fact, Öxxö Xööx chose very relevant problem of 21st century and describe ecological problems in their lyrics, because the planet is too contaminated to ignore them. It’s a pity, that this music is too difficult to perceive and comprehend because such unique and creative views on music shouldn't go unnoticed. Fortunately there are fans of Igorrr’s projects everywhere.

Rating: 9.1 out of 10