ARKHAAIK - Uihtis, CD

Classic Jewelcase Edition

Eisenwald is pleased to announce the release of Arkhaaik’s sophomore full-length release, UIHTIS (English: "the hunt"). Arkhaaik is one of the most fascinating entities to have emerged from Jünger Tumilon (formerly known as Helvetic Underground Committee), the notorious Zürich, Switzerland-based circle around Ungfell, Dakhma, as well as many others.

Since the band's debut in 2019, they have recruited the drummer/percussionist Voidgaunt to their ranks, whose restrained yet simultaneously barbarically elegant approach lends itself perfectly to the band's meditative, yet catchy and incredibly heavy sound. All remaining duties were handled by the existing members Karapan Darvish and Menetekel. Now, after five years of seeming silence, spent honing their craft and perfecting their ambitious vision for the direction of the project, Arkhaaik has made a resounding return in the form of a gripping concept album, elegantly segmented into four tracks that lend new meaning to the word epic.

On UIHTIS (the hunt), Arkhaaik - nomen est omen- explore the theme of hunting in a Bronze Age context. The album opts for an unconventional and refreshing approach, allowing it to rise from the ranks of a concept album and ascend to a truly metaphysical, yet distinctly human experience. To achieve this, the act of "the hunt" is explored on two distinct levels: While half of the album is dedicated to the very real act of hunting an animal and the ceremonial slaughter of the sacred creature, the other half takes a different approach by exploring the theme on a transcendental level – here the sun „hunts“ the moon and vice versa.

Arkhaaik has managed to massively expand their sound and created songs that lend a gripping vibrancy to the archaic world of prehistoric times, with an emphasis on utter brute force that is completely foreign to the comforts of modernity. The band has retained a distinctly primitive edge, which sets them apart from more polished contemporaries, while still sounding utterly colossal. While UIHTIS (the hunt) is a highly atmospheric, almost cinematographic album, it showcases some absolutely scorching riffs and "balls to the wall" grooves that are sure to cause whiplash for any listener.

The band's lyrics were translated or, rather, reconstructed by an expert on Indo-European languages and linguistic reconstruction. This commitment to the concept and the resulting vocals lend the album an extremely strange yet authentic character.

The album was recorded in the Crypt. While the band took the opportunity to mix the music themselves, the mastering duties were handled by Greg Chandler at Priory Recording Studios.

TRACKLIST
I. Geutores Suhnos
II. Hagrah Gurres
III. HrkÞos Heshr Hiagom
IV. Kerhos Mehnsos