There was something about Amnesia by Antirope that I could quite pinpoint or pull into words the first few times I listened to the album.
Then I had the eureka moment and it hit me like a ton of bricks – their sound.
Antirope is the embodiment of every single thing I loved about 90’s and 00’s alternative rock music – heavy and dirty guitars, deep grooves of bass, drums that wreck the heart. It’s as if Antirope stealthily cherry picked elements from the best of the best and forged them into their own.
That sound creation is the foundation of their debut album, Amnesia, and it’s darkly haunting and beautiful.
Founded in Munich in 2015, Antirope is Slaven Stokic on vocals and guitar, Patrick Fleischer on guitar and backing vocals, Julie Fleischer on bass, and Tobi Schauseil on drums.
Recording nerds like myself will appreciate that Amnesia was produced by Patrick in his own studio and that the band recorded all instruments live in a day and a half to capture Antirope’s energy from rehearsals and that the vocals took place across four evenings. In a business where overproduction and endless takes happen, this combination is rare, but this decision resulted in Amnesia being heavy, raw, and powerful.
Slaven’s vocals occasionally echo the raw power of Corey Taylor and Trent Reznor, while the thunderous bass evokes the spirit of Seattle grunge icons Soundgarden and Alice in Chains. These moments seamlessly blend into Antirope‘s unique sound, adding further depth and richness.
While the album is just under an hour at 51 minutes, there’s ineffable magic about Amnesia. Time seems to stretch as listeners become utterly engrossed in the music, wondering how much time has elapsed.
With Amnesia, Antirope fearlessly delves into the complexities of the human experience, exploring the intricate interplay of duality and polarity. This musical exploration is embodied through haunting melodies and enigmatic vocals, creating an immersive atmosphere that is simultaneously dark and alluring.
Amnesia is a sonically haunting journey into the depths of the human experience and I do not want to get off this ride. Ever.
MUST LISTEN TRACKS: Highly suggest putting on the headphones, closing your eyes, and listening to all 11 tracks without interruption
FAVOURITE TRACKS: “Black or Two”, “Dead Sun”, “Passenger”, “Everything You Are”
