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Aton Five — Aton Five
(Bandcamp no#, 2023, CD / DL)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2023-10-05

Aton Five Cover art

Aton Five is a Russian band that shows a maturing sound with their new self-titled album. Named after the protagonist in Piers Anthony’s 1967 sci-fi novel Chthon, Aton Five is a testament to the universality of music, not subject to oral language barriers. The five tracks are tightly orchestrated instrumentals with engaging melodies. These are imaginative tracks:  the high energy prog rock opener “Alienation,” the dark and sinister “Naked Void,” the shimmering guitar and pulsating bass on “Clepsydra,” the Frippian “Danse Macabre,” and the mammoth 22-minute closer “Lethe” with its Hammond organ riffs and the narration of John Keats’ “Ode to Melancholy” in “Part II.” But make no mistake, Aton Five is not a downer album despite these gothic elements. The music is a joy to experience, especially with Aton Five having their feet firmly spanning the decades from the 70s to the present. Recorded between 2019 and 2022, the band certainly did not allow the pandemic to slow them down or stifle their creativity. There is a little bit of something for everyone on this album. Complex interactions, cool riffing, analog synths, hints of Italian prog, and majestic symphonic prog abound. Aton Five is among the better 2023 albums and well worth your attention. Along with Vespero, Aton Five is one of the best Russian bands producing music today.

Filed under: New releases, 2023 releases

Related artist(s): Aton Five

More info
http://atonfive.bandcamp.com/album/aton-five

 

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