As a result of years of persistence and hard work in exploring the immense depths of their own resonances, Jakarta-based post/sludge/power metal collective Amerta embarks on a new profound milestone through the release of their first full-length entitled Nodus Tollens (Self-Released). Through this release, this Indonesian multi-genre unit invites their listeners to venture on an enigmatic journey fueled by existential dread, contemplations, and the inner conflicts that mankind collectively faces against the banality of everyday chaos and mayhem in the form of an in-depth listening experience.

Nodus Tollens means “the knot that denies by denying” in a literal sense in Latin, while figuratively it sort of means “the realization that the plot of your life doesn’t make sense to you anymore” – which is somehow strongly aligned with the premise of this album; a release that has a vehement inclination towards life trajectories, existentialism, and the dichotomy between hope and darkness which is bound to be experienced by every single living individual. 

This album meticulously combines various elements from Metal subgenres, ranging from post-Metal to Doom Metal to Sludge Metal, but what makes it even more spectacular is that it also contains elements from many other genres outside of the Metal spectrum as well such as Shoegaze and Indie Pop – making the ambiance even more dynamic and multi-faceted. Amerta put their utmost heart into converging solid instrumental forces with layered arrangements that give off atmospheric nuances strong on textures and depths. Amerta, on this album, manages to envisage how both heavy and dark arrangements and reflective, calming layers of melodies don’t have to be mutually exclusive; they can be presented simultaneously, and Nodus Tollens is the byproduct of that realization.

Resonating towards both local and global audiences, Amerta is a band that plays a wide range of sonic spectrum; remaining ungovernable and unconventional to the core by refusing to attune to traditional heavy metal standards. They have been doing an immaculate job in finding balance between the undertones of emotive melodies, adventurous arrangements, and violent transgressions. Because they incorporate many genre spectrums on this album such as Shoegaze and Indie Pop, Nodus Tollens also appears inclusive towards non-metal listeners as well.

To me, the deep and solemn female vocals that this album presents are almost compatible to King Woman and Emma Ruth Rundle, while the aggressive and menacing riffs and resonances remind me of many notable names; Pelican and ISIS on the sludgy parts, and Sólstafir on the post-metal parts. Nodus Tollens is the right album for those who are ever seeking for the profound in the mundane, quarreling against the ordeal of existential fears day by day.

Buy the album here:
https://amerta.bandcamp.com/album/nodus-tollens

9 / 10
RALKA SKJERSETH
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