Eayondig - ivory eye

Thanks to Wes Tucker over at Eayondig for sending over the EP for me to check out.

I’d like to start this review by saying what a pleasant surprise this was. I feel like these little hidden gems can be some of the purest material out there, and with a bit of luck, they can find their target audience and gain some well-earned exposure.

Quick sidenote: I’ve been a follower of Robin Stone on Instagram for a couple of years now. I’ve loved watching his amazing blast beat videos and have always wanted to listen to an emerging band with his drumming for it. Learning that he tracked for this EP was a nice little boost in confidence for this release, I must say.

The Ivory Eye EP features three tracks: "This Radiant Darkness," "Voidborn," and "Dead Moon Ritual."

Track 3: "Dead Moon Ritual"

"Dead Moon Ritual," what can I say… This song was also incredibly awesome. The guitar tone on this track is seriously cool, especially the opening with the church bell ambiance in the background, which sets an awesome melody to draw you into the tune. I feel that this song has some really cool time signature changes, which truly shows that the members of Eayondig possess significant musicality and skill. The chord progressions on this one are very noteworthy, not staying the same throughout. The part that starts at roughly 2:30, where the whole direction of the song changes and introduces a more "chunky" segment, was a nice surprise as it seemed to come out of nowhere without warning. This one definitely forced me to headbang and move about! As someone who absolutely loves atmospheric black metal (especially ambient sections when the main instruments subside, letting imagination take place, almost transporting you straight into the album cover in some cases), I felt that this part was beautiful and truly enhanced the song. Really good job on this part!

Track 1: "This Radiant Darkness"

I liked how the first song starts, essentially throwing you straight into the mix. Asserting dominance with super-fast blast beats, rapid tremolo-picked passages, and traditional black metal screams, the pace is incredibly quick and demands your attention with its dynamic shifts in tempo. I particularly enjoyed the part around the 3:20 mark where the chaos subsides, bringing in a more easygoing tempo. I think the guitar melody here is pretty catchy, and the drumming playing alongside it features some brilliant percussive detail. I’m a massive fan of drummers when they utilize every part of the kit to add texture. The usage of an eerie piano passage at the 4:30 mark was super alluring, and I really enjoyed how that turned out. After this passage, I loved the direction the song took. At a slower pace, you can really hear every instrument shine through. I feel the bass guitar on this part was particularly nice, really ringing deeply into the ears. I also loved the deep growls in the section that follows. It really suits the tune, especially with the ambiance in the background, giving me an old-school horror vibe with a twist. An awesome first track and a great introduction!

Track 2: "Voidborn"

Voidborn" was my favorite track on the EP. I loved the introductory riff. The guitars are pretty downtuned, or perhaps it’s just the tone (I’m not a guitar expert), but nonetheless, the opening riff and general feel of the song are wonderful. I feel that the blast beats on this song are the perfect tempo, and the fact that the drummer accents the hi-hats gives it that lovely layer of crispness. I’m also a big fan of how the drummer loved to utilize the ride on the slower sections, providing a strong rhythmic backbone. The main riff to this song is pretty "simple," but I feel with a song like this, "less is more," and Eayondig has absolutely nailed this style. I feel like they should 100% go for more songs like this in their future! I’d like to quickly add how the ending minute to this song was absolutely insane, and for sure, this is the style/sound where Eayondig shines brightest. A quick hats-off to the drumming (especially the precise and rapid-fire stickwork) at the 5:21 mark.

Check the video here

Overall, I feel like this EP was actually really good. Each song had a lot going on: the great guitar playing with some awesome melodies and chunky chord progressions, and the drums (as expected) were crisp, punctual, and featured a powerful, driving rhythm. The vocal range of the vocalist was very impressive. All in all, I’d give this EP a solid 8.5/10, only missing out on a 9 for a couple of reasons. I feel like this release was Eayondig finding their footing, defining their tone, and experimenting with different elements. As I said in my review, I’ve pinpointed parts where I personally feel that the band should lean in that direction. I truly believe that if Eayondig wants to take their sound to the next level—which, to be honest, with this EP, I know they can—they need to really focus on getting a superb mix and mastering professional to truly refine and bring out the boldness that the album perhaps lacks in some points. I really do think that with clearer production, you’ll be able to hear the detailed layering that Eayondig has put so much time into.

This EP presents seriously impressive material, and from now on, I will 100% be following this band with great anticipation for what they can bring to the table on possibly a full album with enhanced production.

Thanks for reading my review, and thanks again to Wes Tucker for sending me the EP. All the best for every member in this band,

Bran - BlackenedSoundscape