Album Review : AMALA “Dark Night”
There is
something particularly fascinating about Japanese musicians and their ability
to combine extraordinary technical skills with originality and creativity. I
remember being invited as a cultural operator to Marseille in 2006 to attend a
festival called MAMA, dedicated to innovative music. Among the participating
bands was a Japanese group called Le Silo. They were incredibly modest and shy
offstage, but once they started playing, everything changed. Their guitarist
played like John Petrucci, perhaps even better (and I'm not exaggerating!),
while the drummer reminded me of Mike Portnoy at the peak of his career. Their
young female singer played piano and delivered absolutely insane vocals. That
band left such a strong impression on me that I am still talking about them
twenty years later. Their talent, musicianship and creativity were simply
unforgettable. And this is exactly the kind of musical excellence I find in
many Japanese musicians. Today, AMALA is here to demonstrate that once again!
Formed in
Tokyo in 2020, this instrumental metal quartet finally delivers its first
full-length album, Dark Night, an eight-track journey built around heavy
riffs, progressive structures and atmospheric passages. Let's start with the
production, which thankfully avoids sounding too polished or sterile. There is
a slightly rough edge to the overall sound, giving the music an aggressive
character and allowing the guitars to occupy plenty of space. With seven-string
guitars and a five-string bass, the low end is particularly thick and powerful,
while the clean guitar passages provide beautiful atmospheric and sometimes almost
space-like textures. The balance between heaviness and atmosphere works
wonderfully.
Instrumentally, the level is exceptionally high. AMALA operates in progressive metal territory, but what makes this album interesting is that the musicianship never feels like a simple technical demonstration. The guitar work is particularly impressive, relying more on inventive riffing and unusual sounds than endless sweeping techniques or unnecessarily flashy solos. Some riffs have such distinctive tones and textures that you genuinely wonder how the guitarist manages to produce them. The drumming is equally remarkable, technically demanding, precise and perfectly suited to the constantly evolving guitar arrangements. The decision to remain entirely instrumental is also a wise one. There are moments where introducing the kind of overly melodic clean vocals often found in modern progressive metal would probably have taken something away from the music.
Among my
personal highlights, "Dawn" immediately stands out. Its riffing has a
very distinctive character, with unusual sounds and musical expressions that I
haven't encountered very often. There is something almost uniquely Japanese
about some of these guitar passages, and this is precisely where AMALA's
identity starts to emerge. The band mentions having spent years searching for
its own style, and I believe something genuinely interesting is taking shape
here.
"Colors
of Solitude" is another excellent moment, opening with beautiful arpeggios
before introducing a catchy rhythmic section that gradually develops into
something more intricate, eventually finishing with a wonderfully staccato
passage. "New Moon" also deserves special mention, with its
aggressive and dissonant main riff, airy clean guitar sections, impressive tom
rolls during the breakdown and a final section that descends into absolute
chaos.
Dark
Night is an
impressive debut that successfully combines heaviness, technical musicianship
and atmospheric songwriting without sacrificing personality. AMALA may have
started this journey searching for their own sound, but listening to this
album, I would say they have found it. Gentlemen, congratulations! You have
created something genuinely distinctive, and I look forward to hearing where
this musical journey takes you next!
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