#mithras — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #mithras, aggregated by home.social.
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I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an #atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist when considering #Zeus, #Apollo, #AmonRa, #Mithras, #Baal, #Thor, #Wotan, the Golden Calf and the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I just go one #god further.
Richard Dawkins, The God #Delusion
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I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an #atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist when considering #Zeus, #Apollo, #AmonRa, #Mithras, #Baal, #Thor, #Wotan, the Golden Calf and the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I just go one #god further.
Richard Dawkins, The God #Delusion
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I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an #atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist when considering #Zeus, #Apollo, #AmonRa, #Mithras, #Baal, #Thor, #Wotan, the Golden Calf and the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I just go one #god further.
Richard Dawkins, The God #Delusion
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I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an #atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist when considering #Zeus, #Apollo, #AmonRa, #Mithras, #Baal, #Thor, #Wotan, the Golden Calf and the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I just go one #god further.
Richard Dawkins, The God #Delusion
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I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an #atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist when considering #Zeus, #Apollo, #AmonRa, #Mithras, #Baal, #Thor, #Wotan, the Golden Calf and the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I just go one #god further.
Richard Dawkins, The God #Delusion
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Archaeologists Discover Oldest Mithras Temple in Bavaria
📰 Original title: Ancient sanctuary tied to 'most mysterious' cult uncovered in rare find beneath historic city
🤖 IA: It's clickbait ⚠️
👥 Usuarios: It's clickbait ⚠️View full AI summary: https://killbait.com/en/archaeologists-discover-oldest-mithras-temple-in-bavaria/?redirpost=b05dbba6-087c-4756-8016-90ea8b6fdb33
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German archaeologists find a mysterious men-only Mithras cult site.
During recent excavations in Regensburg’s old town, German archaeologists uncovered an ancient buried temple where Roman legionaries once worshipped the sun god Mithras.
#Archaeology #Mithras #Religion #RomanEmpire #Germany #History
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German archaeologists find a mysterious men-only Mithras cult site.
During recent excavations in Regensburg’s old town, German archaeologists uncovered an ancient buried temple where Roman legionaries once worshipped the sun god Mithras.
#Archaeology #Mithras #Religion #RomanEmpire #Germany #History
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German archaeologists find a mysterious men-only Mithras cult site.
During recent excavations in Regensburg’s old town, German archaeologists uncovered an ancient buried temple where Roman legionaries once worshipped the sun god Mithras.
#Archaeology #Mithras #Religion #RomanEmpire #Germany #History
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German archaeologists find a mysterious men-only Mithras cult site.
During recent excavations in Regensburg’s old town, German archaeologists uncovered an ancient buried temple where Roman legionaries once worshipped the sun god Mithras.
#Archaeology #Mithras #Religion #RomanEmpire #Germany #History
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German archaeologists find a mysterious men-only Mithras cult site.
During recent excavations in Regensburg’s old town, German archaeologists uncovered an ancient buried temple where Roman legionaries once worshipped the sun god Mithras.
#Archaeology #Mithras #Religion #RomanEmpire #Germany #History
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Facts about some religions...
#Christianity is based on #Mithras and #Dionysus cults. And some branches of modern #Witchcraft are based on Christianity (#Gardnerian). Just leaving that out there...
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Facts about some religions...
#Christianity is based on #Mithras and #Dionysus cults. And some branches of modern #Witchcraft are based on Christianity (#Gardnerian). Just leaving that out there...
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Facts about some religions...
#Christianity is based on #Mithras and #Dionysus cults. And some branches of modern #Witchcraft are based on Christianity (#Gardnerian). Just leaving that out there...
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Facts about some religions...
#Christianity is based on #Mithras and #Dionysus cults. And some branches of modern #Witchcraft are based on Christianity (#Gardnerian). Just leaving that out there...
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Facts about some religions...
#Christianity is based on #Mithras and #Dionysus cults. And some branches of modern #Witchcraft are based on Christianity (#Gardnerian). Just leaving that out there...
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Nische bei der Mithrasgrotte am Halberg
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Nische bei der Mithrasgrotte am Halberg
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Nische bei der Mithrasgrotte am Halberg
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For with each sacrificial night
And every victim's final plight
The Unconquered Sun drinks back the light
And Mithras is reborn from endless night#mythology #HorrorShort #mystery
#Mithras #AncientEvil #CultHorror #BloodRitual
#SecretCult #AncientRituals #ForgottenGods #Horror #filmsky
🩸📚
☠️
♉
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Heute war ich mal unterwegs - und im Museum, genauer gesagt, dem Archäologischen Museum Frankfurt/M.,. Und ich habe mir auch gleich Lesefutter mitgebracht...
#archäologie #archaeology #museumkarmelitergasse #roman #römisch #mithras #minerva #nida #frankfurt #heddernheim #romanempire #museum
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Heute war ich mal unterwegs - und im Museum, genauer gesagt, dem Archäologischen Museum Frankfurt/M.,. Und ich habe mir auch gleich Lesefutter mitgebracht...
#archäologie #archaeology #museumkarmelitergasse #roman #römisch #mithras #minerva #nida #frankfurt #heddernheim #romanempire #museum
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Heute war ich mal unterwegs - und im Museum, genauer gesagt, dem Archäologischen Museum Frankfurt/M.,. Und ich habe mir auch gleich Lesefutter mitgebracht...
#archäologie #archaeology #museumkarmelitergasse #roman #römisch #mithras #minerva #nida #frankfurt #heddernheim #romanempire #museum
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Heute war ich mal unterwegs - und im Museum, genauer gesagt, dem Archäologischen Museum Frankfurt/M.,. Und ich habe mir auch gleich Lesefutter mitgebracht...
#archäologie #archaeology #museumkarmelitergasse #roman #römisch #mithras #minerva #nida #frankfurt #heddernheim #romanempire #museum
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Heute war ich mal unterwegs - und im Museum, genauer gesagt, dem Archäologischen Museum Frankfurt/M.,. Und ich habe mir auch gleich Lesefutter mitgebracht...
#archäologie #archaeology #museumkarmelitergasse #roman #römisch #mithras #minerva #nida #frankfurt #heddernheim #romanempire #museum
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Bringing Mithras to Life: Building a Cult Artifact from Wood
#PropMaking #HorrorProps #Mithras #Mithraism #Ancient #cults #CultHorror #Woodworking #WoodArt #DIY #Horror #PracticalEffects #BehindTheScenes #IndieFilm #ShortFilm #Mythology #Rome #Ritual #Occult #MakingOf #FilmMaker #Carving #Sculpture
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So what will you be in for when you log on for Writing the Occult: Belief TOMORROW, Saturday 6 September? A whole bunch of fascinating discussions about belief and speculative fiction, including this one ⬇️
#ancientrome #romanbelief #mithras #mithraic #history #writing #writers
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So what will you be in for when you log on for Writing the Occult: Belief TOMORROW, Saturday 6 September? A whole bunch of fascinating discussions about belief and speculative fiction, including this one ⬇️
#ancientrome #romanbelief #mithras #mithraic #history #writing #writers
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So what will you be in for when you log on for Writing the Occult: Belief TOMORROW, Saturday 6 September? A whole bunch of fascinating discussions about belief and speculative fiction, including this one ⬇️
#ancientrome #romanbelief #mithras #mithraic #history #writing #writers
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So what will you be in for when you log on for Writing the Occult: Belief TOMORROW, Saturday 6 September? A whole bunch of fascinating discussions about belief and speculative fiction, including this one ⬇️
#ancientrome #romanbelief #mithras #mithraic #history #writing #writers
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Azure Emote – Cryptic Aura Review
By Owlswald
Azure Emote is the project of two very busy musicians, vocalist Mike Hrubovcak (ex-Monstrosity, ex-Vile) and guitarist Ryan Moll (Hypoxia, Total Fucking Destruction). In between their work with many acclaimed death metal acts, the duo reconvenes every five years or so to craft a new Azure Emote record.1 What began in 2010 with Chronicles of an Aging Mammal as an experimental think tank for their genre-defying ideas has steadily evolved into their own eclectic brand of avant-garde death metal. Cryptic Aura marks the group’s fourth full-length and their third featuring the same all-star lineup: drumming powerhouse Mike Heller (Abigail Williams, ex-Fear Factory), legendary bassist Kelly Conlon (ex-Death), and violinist extraordinaire Pete Johansen (ex-Sirenia). Anna Murphy (ex-Eluveitie) also joins this renowned lineup, contributing her enchanting clean vocals.2 While long gaps between releases and an overabundance of ideas have historically hindered Azure Emote, Cryptic Aura strives to defy this pattern, arriving with a clear ambition to be both darker and heavier than anything they’ve released before.
Imagine a collision of Dimmu Borgir, Ne Obliviscaris, and Mithras and you’ll be in the ballpark of describing Azure Emote’s sound. Hrubovcak’s symphonic keyboards and Shagrath-esque blackened growls top Moll’s driving riffs, Conlon’s dexterous bass and Heller’s remarkable drumming to create occult-infused songs rich with dark atmosphere and dramatic flair. Heller’s performance on Cryptic Aura is mind-blowing. His blazing tom rolls (“Aeons Adrift”), tight rhythms (“Disease of the Soul”), and creative backbeats (“Return to the Unknown”) are consistently jaw-dropping, at times even overpowering the album’s bright DR 9 master. Johansen’s violin steps into a main role, often assuming a folky, crestfallen tone across the album’s ten tracks.3 Enhancing Johansen’s violin are Murphy’s backing vocals, her majestic croons (“Bleed with the Moon”) and ethereal melodies (“Feast of Leeches,” “Aeons Adrift”) driving haunting transitions. She is a welcome addition, offering bouts of serenity and a fresh touch to Azure Emote’s relentless instrumental virtuosity.
Azure Emote’s technical elements frequently coalesce to create powerful, well-structured material, despite their inherent complexity. Still incorporating a wide array of musical styles and ideas into a progressive death metal mélange, Cryptic Aura feels more calculated than past efforts. “Disease of the Soul” is a prime example, standing out as one of the album’s strongest tracks. It demonstrates the group’s unified musical vision, maintaining control amidst torrents of virtuosic chaos. Likewise, “Feast of Leeches” showcases this synergy—Murphy’s soothing pitches, Johansen’s violin, and Hrubovcak’s synth arrangements artfully balancing its thrashy riffs, relentless blast beats and Moll and Conlon’s adventurous soloing. Johansen’s violin plays a crucial role in grounding Cryptic Aura’s songs and providing a consistent thematic thread. Far from being buried in the mix, Johansen often takes the lead, offering melodic death-folk elements and a variety of engaging leads and solos that share the spotlight with Moll. From trilling melodies (“Aeons Adrift,” “Insomnia Nervosa”) to chilling atmospheric passages with delay (“Defiance Infernus”) to a somber homestead feel (“Bleed with the Moon”), Johansen’s versatility adds a distinctive layer to Azure Emote’s multifaceted soundscape.
While Cryptic Aura features impressive technicality and several strong tracks, its prevailing density occasionally hampers it, thereby leading to listener fatigue. Heller’s performance, while spectacular, is overwhelming at times—particularly on “Defiance Infernus,” “Into Abysmal Oblivion,” and “Aeons Adrift”—due to his blistering speed and the drum-forward mix. Furthermore, the powerful beginnings of “Provoking the Obscene” and “Aeons Adrift” ultimately dissolve into exhausting complexity during their chaotic conclusions. “Bleed with the Moon,” meanwhile, offers a repetitive, cascading instrumental barrage that offers little reprieve from its intensity. Murphy’s performance serves Cryptic Aura well, however, helping to counterbalance the overwhelming instrumentation. Her choral passages shine—notably the Gladiator-like ambient transition in “Bleed the Moon”—and her dramatic and warm tone commands attention on “Return to the Unknown” and “Provoking the Obscene.” Unfortunately, she is largely confined to backup duties—a disappointing and missed opportunity.
Though not without its flaws, Cryptic Aura remains a good album. A consistent lineup has allowed Azure Emote to streamline their creativity, presenting their impressive virtuosity with a newfound focus. With Cryptic Aura, the group has found solid footing, marking a positive evolution and resulting in my favorite record from them to date. Such progress ignites my excitement for the future. My only hope is that their next iteration arrives much sooner.
Rating: Good
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Testimony Records
Websites: azureemote.bandcamp.com/music | facebook.com/azureemote
Releases Worldwide: July 25th, 2025#2025 #30 #AbagailWilliams #AmericanMetal #AvantGarde #AzureEmote #CrypticAura #Death #DeathMetal #DimmuBorgir #Eluveitie #FearFactory #Hypoxia #Jul25 #Mithras #Monstrosity #NeObliviscaris #ProgressiveDeath #Review #Reviews #Sirenia #TestimonyRecords #TotalFuckingDestruction #Vile
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Azure Emote – Cryptic Aura Review
By Owlswald
Azure Emote is the project of two very busy musicians, vocalist Mike Hrubovcak (ex-Monstrosity, ex-Vile) and guitarist Ryan Moll (Hypoxia, Total Fucking Destruction). In between their work with many acclaimed death metal acts, the duo reconvenes every five years or so to craft a new Azure Emote record.1 What began in 2010 with Chronicles of an Aging Mammal as an experimental think tank for their genre-defying ideas has steadily evolved into their own eclectic brand of avant-garde death metal. Cryptic Aura marks the group’s fourth full-length and their third featuring the same all-star lineup: drumming powerhouse Mike Heller (Abigail Williams, ex-Fear Factory), legendary bassist Kelly Conlon (ex-Death), and violinist extraordinaire Pete Johansen (ex-Sirenia). Anna Murphy (ex-Eluveitie) also joins this renowned lineup, contributing her enchanting clean vocals.2 While long gaps between releases and an overabundance of ideas have historically hindered Azure Emote, Cryptic Aura strives to defy this pattern, arriving with a clear ambition to be both darker and heavier than anything they’ve released before.
Imagine a collision of Dimmu Borgir, Ne Obliviscaris, and Mithras and you’ll be in the ballpark of describing Azure Emote’s sound. Hrubovcak’s symphonic keyboards and Shagrath-esque blackened growls top Moll’s driving riffs, Conlon’s dexterous bass and Heller’s remarkable drumming to create occult-infused songs rich with dark atmosphere and dramatic flair. Heller’s performance on Cryptic Aura is mind-blowing. His blazing tom rolls (“Aeons Adrift”), tight rhythms (“Disease of the Soul”), and creative backbeats (“Return to the Unknown”) are consistently jaw-dropping, at times even overpowering the album’s bright DR 9 master. Johansen’s violin steps into a main role, often assuming a folky, crestfallen tone across the album’s ten tracks.3 Enhancing Johansen’s violin are Murphy’s backing vocals, her majestic croons (“Bleed with the Moon”) and ethereal melodies (“Feast of Leeches,” “Aeons Adrift”) driving haunting transitions. She is a welcome addition, offering bouts of serenity and a fresh touch to Azure Emote’s relentless instrumental virtuosity.
Azure Emote’s technical elements frequently coalesce to create powerful, well-structured material, despite their inherent complexity. Still incorporating a wide array of musical styles and ideas into a progressive death metal mélange, Cryptic Aura feels more calculated than past efforts. “Disease of the Soul” is a prime example, standing out as one of the album’s strongest tracks. It demonstrates the group’s unified musical vision, maintaining control amidst torrents of virtuosic chaos. Likewise, “Feast of Leeches” showcases this synergy—Murphy’s soothing pitches, Johansen’s violin, and Hrubovcak’s synth arrangements artfully balancing its thrashy riffs, relentless blast beats and Moll and Conlon’s adventurous soloing. Johansen’s violin plays a crucial role in grounding Cryptic Aura’s songs and providing a consistent thematic thread. Far from being buried in the mix, Johansen often takes the lead, offering melodic death-folk elements and a variety of engaging leads and solos that share the spotlight with Moll. From trilling melodies (“Aeons Adrift,” “Insomnia Nervosa”) to chilling atmospheric passages with delay (“Defiance Infernus”) to a somber homestead feel (“Bleed with the Moon”), Johansen’s versatility adds a distinctive layer to Azure Emote’s multifaceted soundscape.
While Cryptic Aura features impressive technicality and several strong tracks, its prevailing density occasionally hampers it, thereby leading to listener fatigue. Heller’s performance, while spectacular, is overwhelming at times—particularly on “Defiance Infernus,” “Into Abysmal Oblivion,” and “Aeons Adrift”—due to his blistering speed and the drum-forward mix. Furthermore, the powerful beginnings of “Provoking the Obscene” and “Aeons Adrift” ultimately dissolve into exhausting complexity during their chaotic conclusions. “Bleed with the Moon,” meanwhile, offers a repetitive, cascading instrumental barrage that offers little reprieve from its intensity. Murphy’s performance serves Cryptic Aura well, however, helping to counterbalance the overwhelming instrumentation. Her choral passages shine—notably the Gladiator-like ambient transition in “Bleed the Moon”—and her dramatic and warm tone commands attention on “Return to the Unknown” and “Provoking the Obscene.” Unfortunately, she is largely confined to backup duties—a disappointing and missed opportunity.
Though not without its flaws, Cryptic Aura remains a good album. A consistent lineup has allowed Azure Emote to streamline their creativity, presenting their impressive virtuosity with a newfound focus. With Cryptic Aura, the group has found solid footing, marking a positive evolution and resulting in my favorite record from them to date. Such progress ignites my excitement for the future. My only hope is that their next iteration arrives much sooner.
Rating: Good
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Testimony Records
Websites: azureemote.bandcamp.com/music | facebook.com/azureemote
Releases Worldwide: July 25th, 2025#2025 #30 #AbagailWilliams #AmericanMetal #AvantGarde #AzureEmote #CrypticAura #Death #DeathMetal #DimmuBorgir #Eluveitie #FearFactory #Hypoxia #Jul25 #Mithras #Monstrosity #NeObliviscaris #ProgressiveDeath #Review #Reviews #Sirenia #TestimonyRecords #TotalFuckingDestruction #Vile
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Azure Emote – Cryptic Aura Review
By Owlswald
Azure Emote is the project of two very busy musicians, vocalist Mike Hrubovcak (ex-Monstrosity, ex-Vile) and guitarist Ryan Moll (Hypoxia, Total Fucking Destruction). In between their work with many acclaimed death metal acts, the duo reconvenes every five years or so to craft a new Azure Emote record.1 What began in 2010 with Chronicles of an Aging Mammal as an experimental think tank for their genre-defying ideas has steadily evolved into their own eclectic brand of avant-garde death metal. Cryptic Aura marks the group’s fourth full-length and their third featuring the same all-star lineup: drumming powerhouse Mike Heller (Abigail Williams, ex-Fear Factory), legendary bassist Kelly Conlon (ex-Death), and violinist extraordinaire Pete Johansen (ex-Sirenia). Anna Murphy (ex-Eluveitie) also joins this renowned lineup, contributing her enchanting clean vocals.2 While long gaps between releases and an overabundance of ideas have historically hindered Azure Emote, Cryptic Aura strives to defy this pattern, arriving with a clear ambition to be both darker and heavier than anything they’ve released before.
Imagine a collision of Dimmu Borgir, Ne Obliviscaris, and Mithras and you’ll be in the ballpark of describing Azure Emote’s sound. Hrubovcak’s symphonic keyboards and Shagrath-esque blackened growls top Moll’s driving riffs, Conlon’s dexterous bass and Heller’s remarkable drumming to create occult-infused songs rich with dark atmosphere and dramatic flair. Heller’s performance on Cryptic Aura is mind-blowing. His blazing tom rolls (“Aeons Adrift”), tight rhythms (“Disease of the Soul”), and creative backbeats (“Return to the Unknown”) are consistently jaw-dropping, at times even overpowering the album’s bright DR 9 master. Johansen’s violin steps into a main role, often assuming a folky, crestfallen tone across the album’s ten tracks.3 Enhancing Johansen’s violin are Murphy’s backing vocals, her majestic croons (“Bleed with the Moon”) and ethereal melodies (“Feast of Leeches,” “Aeons Adrift”) driving haunting transitions. She is a welcome addition, offering bouts of serenity and a fresh touch to Azure Emote’s relentless instrumental virtuosity.
Azure Emote’s technical elements frequently coalesce to create powerful, well-structured material, despite their inherent complexity. Still incorporating a wide array of musical styles and ideas into a progressive death metal mélange, Cryptic Aura feels more calculated than past efforts. “Disease of the Soul” is a prime example, standing out as one of the album’s strongest tracks. It demonstrates the group’s unified musical vision, maintaining control amidst torrents of virtuosic chaos. Likewise, “Feast of Leeches” showcases this synergy—Murphy’s soothing pitches, Johansen’s violin, and Hrubovcak’s synth arrangements artfully balancing its thrashy riffs, relentless blast beats and Moll and Conlon’s adventurous soloing. Johansen’s violin plays a crucial role in grounding Cryptic Aura’s songs and providing a consistent thematic thread. Far from being buried in the mix, Johansen often takes the lead, offering melodic death-folk elements and a variety of engaging leads and solos that share the spotlight with Moll. From trilling melodies (“Aeons Adrift,” “Insomnia Nervosa”) to chilling atmospheric passages with delay (“Defiance Infernus”) to a somber homestead feel (“Bleed with the Moon”), Johansen’s versatility adds a distinctive layer to Azure Emote’s multifaceted soundscape.
While Cryptic Aura features impressive technicality and several strong tracks, its prevailing density occasionally hampers it, thereby leading to listener fatigue. Heller’s performance, while spectacular, is overwhelming at times—particularly on “Defiance Infernus,” “Into Abysmal Oblivion,” and “Aeons Adrift”—due to his blistering speed and the drum-forward mix. Furthermore, the powerful beginnings of “Provoking the Obscene” and “Aeons Adrift” ultimately dissolve into exhausting complexity during their chaotic conclusions. “Bleed with the Moon,” meanwhile, offers a repetitive, cascading instrumental barrage that offers little reprieve from its intensity. Murphy’s performance serves Cryptic Aura well, however, helping to counterbalance the overwhelming instrumentation. Her choral passages shine—notably the Gladiator-like ambient transition in “Bleed the Moon”—and her dramatic and warm tone commands attention on “Return to the Unknown” and “Provoking the Obscene.” Unfortunately, she is largely confined to backup duties—a disappointing and missed opportunity.
Though not without its flaws, Cryptic Aura remains a good album. A consistent lineup has allowed Azure Emote to streamline their creativity, presenting their impressive virtuosity with a newfound focus. With Cryptic Aura, the group has found solid footing, marking a positive evolution and resulting in my favorite record from them to date. Such progress ignites my excitement for the future. My only hope is that their next iteration arrives much sooner.
Rating: Good
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Testimony Records
Websites: azureemote.bandcamp.com/music | facebook.com/azureemote
Releases Worldwide: July 25th, 2025#2025 #30 #AbagailWilliams #AmericanMetal #AvantGarde #AzureEmote #CrypticAura #Death #DeathMetal #DimmuBorgir #Eluveitie #FearFactory #Hypoxia #Jul25 #Mithras #Monstrosity #NeObliviscaris #ProgressiveDeath #Review #Reviews #Sirenia #TestimonyRecords #TotalFuckingDestruction #Vile
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Azure Emote – Cryptic Aura Review
By Owlswald
Azure Emote is the project of two very busy musicians, vocalist Mike Hrubovcak (ex-Monstrosity, ex-Vile) and guitarist Ryan Moll (Hypoxia, Total Fucking Destruction). In between their work with many acclaimed death metal acts, the duo reconvenes every five years or so to craft a new Azure Emote record.1 What began in 2010 with Chronicles of an Aging Mammal as an experimental think tank for their genre-defying ideas has steadily evolved into their own eclectic brand of avant-garde death metal. Cryptic Aura marks the group’s fourth full-length and their third featuring the same all-star lineup: drumming powerhouse Mike Heller (Abigail Williams, ex-Fear Factory), legendary bassist Kelly Conlon (ex-Death), and violinist extraordinaire Pete Johansen (ex-Sirenia). Anna Murphy (ex-Eluveitie) also joins this renowned lineup, contributing her enchanting clean vocals.2 While long gaps between releases and an overabundance of ideas have historically hindered Azure Emote, Cryptic Aura strives to defy this pattern, arriving with a clear ambition to be both darker and heavier than anything they’ve released before.
Imagine a collision of Dimmu Borgir, Ne Obliviscaris, and Mithras and you’ll be in the ballpark of describing Azure Emote’s sound. Hrubovcak’s symphonic keyboards and Shagrath-esque blackened growls top Moll’s driving riffs, Conlon’s dexterous bass and Heller’s remarkable drumming to create occult-infused songs rich with dark atmosphere and dramatic flair. Heller’s performance on Cryptic Aura is mind-blowing. His blazing tom rolls (“Aeons Adrift”), tight rhythms (“Disease of the Soul”), and creative backbeats (“Return to the Unknown”) are consistently jaw-dropping, at times even overpowering the album’s bright DR 9 master. Johansen’s violin steps into a main role, often assuming a folky, crestfallen tone across the album’s ten tracks.3 Enhancing Johansen’s violin are Murphy’s backing vocals, her majestic croons (“Bleed with the Moon”) and ethereal melodies (“Feast of Leeches,” “Aeons Adrift”) driving haunting transitions. She is a welcome addition, offering bouts of serenity and a fresh touch to Azure Emote’s relentless instrumental virtuosity.
Azure Emote’s technical elements frequently coalesce to create powerful, well-structured material, despite their inherent complexity. Still incorporating a wide array of musical styles and ideas into a progressive death metal mélange, Cryptic Aura feels more calculated than past efforts. “Disease of the Soul” is a prime example, standing out as one of the album’s strongest tracks. It demonstrates the group’s unified musical vision, maintaining control amidst torrents of virtuosic chaos. Likewise, “Feast of Leeches” showcases this synergy—Murphy’s soothing pitches, Johansen’s violin, and Hrubovcak’s synth arrangements artfully balancing its thrashy riffs, relentless blast beats and Moll and Conlon’s adventurous soloing. Johansen’s violin plays a crucial role in grounding Cryptic Aura’s songs and providing a consistent thematic thread. Far from being buried in the mix, Johansen often takes the lead, offering melodic death-folk elements and a variety of engaging leads and solos that share the spotlight with Moll. From trilling melodies (“Aeons Adrift,” “Insomnia Nervosa”) to chilling atmospheric passages with delay (“Defiance Infernus”) to a somber homestead feel (“Bleed with the Moon”), Johansen’s versatility adds a distinctive layer to Azure Emote’s multifaceted soundscape.
While Cryptic Aura features impressive technicality and several strong tracks, its prevailing density occasionally hampers it, thereby leading to listener fatigue. Heller’s performance, while spectacular, is overwhelming at times—particularly on “Defiance Infernus,” “Into Abysmal Oblivion,” and “Aeons Adrift”—due to his blistering speed and the drum-forward mix. Furthermore, the powerful beginnings of “Provoking the Obscene” and “Aeons Adrift” ultimately dissolve into exhausting complexity during their chaotic conclusions. “Bleed with the Moon,” meanwhile, offers a repetitive, cascading instrumental barrage that offers little reprieve from its intensity. Murphy’s performance serves Cryptic Aura well, however, helping to counterbalance the overwhelming instrumentation. Her choral passages shine—notably the Gladiator-like ambient transition in “Bleed the Moon”—and her dramatic and warm tone commands attention on “Return to the Unknown” and “Provoking the Obscene.” Unfortunately, she is largely confined to backup duties—a disappointing and missed opportunity.
Though not without its flaws, Cryptic Aura remains a good album. A consistent lineup has allowed Azure Emote to streamline their creativity, presenting their impressive virtuosity with a newfound focus. With Cryptic Aura, the group has found solid footing, marking a positive evolution and resulting in my favorite record from them to date. Such progress ignites my excitement for the future. My only hope is that their next iteration arrives much sooner.
Rating: Good
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Testimony Records
Websites: azureemote.bandcamp.com/music | facebook.com/azureemote
Releases Worldwide: July 25th, 2025#2025 #30 #AbagailWilliams #AmericanMetal #AvantGarde #AzureEmote #CrypticAura #Death #DeathMetal #DimmuBorgir #Eluveitie #FearFactory #Hypoxia #Jul25 #Mithras #Monstrosity #NeObliviscaris #ProgressiveDeath #Review #Reviews #Sirenia #TestimonyRecords #TotalFuckingDestruction #Vile
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Azure Emote – Cryptic Aura Review
By Owlswald
Azure Emote is the project of two very busy musicians, vocalist Mike Hrubovcak (ex-Monstrosity, ex-Vile) and guitarist Ryan Moll (Hypoxia, Total Fucking Destruction). In between their work with many acclaimed death metal acts, the duo reconvenes every five years or so to craft a new Azure Emote record.1 What began in 2010 with Chronicles of an Aging Mammal as an experimental think tank for their genre-defying ideas has steadily evolved into their own eclectic brand of avant-garde death metal. Cryptic Aura marks the group’s fourth full-length and their third featuring the same all-star lineup: drumming powerhouse Mike Heller (Abigail Williams, ex-Fear Factory), legendary bassist Kelly Conlon (ex-Death), and violinist extraordinaire Pete Johansen (ex-Sirenia). Anna Murphy (ex-Eluveitie) also joins this renowned lineup, contributing her enchanting clean vocals.2 While long gaps between releases and an overabundance of ideas have historically hindered Azure Emote, Cryptic Aura strives to defy this pattern, arriving with a clear ambition to be both darker and heavier than anything they’ve released before.
Imagine a collision of Dimmu Borgir, Ne Obliviscaris, and Mithras and you’ll be in the ballpark of describing Azure Emote’s sound. Hrubovcak’s symphonic keyboards and Shagrath-esque blackened growls top Moll’s driving riffs, Conlon’s dexterous bass and Heller’s remarkable drumming to create occult-infused songs rich with dark atmosphere and dramatic flair. Heller’s performance on Cryptic Aura is mind-blowing. His blazing tom rolls (“Aeons Adrift”), tight rhythms (“Disease of the Soul”), and creative backbeats (“Return to the Unknown”) are consistently jaw-dropping, at times even overpowering the album’s bright DR 9 master. Johansen’s violin steps into a main role, often assuming a folky, crestfallen tone across the album’s ten tracks.3 Enhancing Johansen’s violin are Murphy’s backing vocals, her majestic croons (“Bleed with the Moon”) and ethereal melodies (“Feast of Leeches,” “Aeons Adrift”) driving haunting transitions. She is a welcome addition, offering bouts of serenity and a fresh touch to Azure Emote’s relentless instrumental virtuosity.
Azure Emote’s technical elements frequently coalesce to create powerful, well-structured material, despite their inherent complexity. Still incorporating a wide array of musical styles and ideas into a progressive death metal mélange, Cryptic Aura feels more calculated than past efforts. “Disease of the Soul” is a prime example, standing out as one of the album’s strongest tracks. It demonstrates the group’s unified musical vision, maintaining control amidst torrents of virtuosic chaos. Likewise, “Feast of Leeches” showcases this synergy—Murphy’s soothing pitches, Johansen’s violin, and Hrubovcak’s synth arrangements artfully balancing its thrashy riffs, relentless blast beats and Moll and Conlon’s adventurous soloing. Johansen’s violin plays a crucial role in grounding Cryptic Aura’s songs and providing a consistent thematic thread. Far from being buried in the mix, Johansen often takes the lead, offering melodic death-folk elements and a variety of engaging leads and solos that share the spotlight with Moll. From trilling melodies (“Aeons Adrift,” “Insomnia Nervosa”) to chilling atmospheric passages with delay (“Defiance Infernus”) to a somber homestead feel (“Bleed with the Moon”), Johansen’s versatility adds a distinctive layer to Azure Emote’s multifaceted soundscape.
While Cryptic Aura features impressive technicality and several strong tracks, its prevailing density occasionally hampers it, thereby leading to listener fatigue. Heller’s performance, while spectacular, is overwhelming at times—particularly on “Defiance Infernus,” “Into Abysmal Oblivion,” and “Aeons Adrift”—due to his blistering speed and the drum-forward mix. Furthermore, the powerful beginnings of “Provoking the Obscene” and “Aeons Adrift” ultimately dissolve into exhausting complexity during their chaotic conclusions. “Bleed with the Moon,” meanwhile, offers a repetitive, cascading instrumental barrage that offers little reprieve from its intensity. Murphy’s performance serves Cryptic Aura well, however, helping to counterbalance the overwhelming instrumentation. Her choral passages shine—notably the Gladiator-like ambient transition in “Bleed the Moon”—and her dramatic and warm tone commands attention on “Return to the Unknown” and “Provoking the Obscene.” Unfortunately, she is largely confined to backup duties—a disappointing and missed opportunity.
Though not without its flaws, Cryptic Aura remains a good album. A consistent lineup has allowed Azure Emote to streamline their creativity, presenting their impressive virtuosity with a newfound focus. With Cryptic Aura, the group has found solid footing, marking a positive evolution and resulting in my favorite record from them to date. Such progress ignites my excitement for the future. My only hope is that their next iteration arrives much sooner.
Rating: Good
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Testimony Records
Websites: azureemote.bandcamp.com/music | facebook.com/azureemote
Releases Worldwide: July 25th, 2025#2025 #30 #AbagailWilliams #AmericanMetal #AvantGarde #AzureEmote #CrypticAura #Death #DeathMetal #DimmuBorgir #Eluveitie #FearFactory #Hypoxia #Jul25 #Mithras #Monstrosity #NeObliviscaris #ProgressiveDeath #Review #Reviews #Sirenia #TestimonyRecords #TotalFuckingDestruction #Vile
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The text for the published journal paper about the temple to Mithras at Inveresk is available free to read thanks to the author on Edinburgh University's Research Explorer website at https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/publications/mithras-in-scotland-a-mithraeum-at-inveresk-east-lothian #Mithras #RomanBritain #AncientRome #Scotland #EastLothian #Inveresk #Archaeology
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The text for the published journal paper about the temple to Mithras at Inveresk is available free to read thanks to the author on Edinburgh University's Research Explorer website at https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/publications/mithras-in-scotland-a-mithraeum-at-inveresk-east-lothian #Mithras #RomanBritain #AncientRome #Scotland #EastLothian #Inveresk #Archaeology
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The text for the published journal paper about the temple to Mithras at Inveresk is available free to read thanks to the author on Edinburgh University's Research Explorer website at https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/publications/mithras-in-scotland-a-mithraeum-at-inveresk-east-lothian #Mithras #RomanBritain #AncientRome #Scotland #EastLothian #Inveresk #Archaeology
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The text for the published journal paper about the temple to Mithras at Inveresk is available free to read thanks to the author on Edinburgh University's Research Explorer website at https://www.research.ed.ac.uk/en/publications/mithras-in-scotland-a-mithraeum-at-inveresk-east-lothian #Mithras #RomanBritain #AncientRome #Scotland #EastLothian #Inveresk #Archaeology
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Watching a recorded Treadwells bookshop talk about the Mithras cult in London. And remembering the fairly recent find of an altar to Mithras at Inveresk in Scotland. Many pics viewable in free to read supplementary material for the paywall-locked journal article. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/britannia/article/abs/mithras-in-scotland-a-mithraeum-at-inveresk-east-lothian/544B6233F7F06415EE049C60A827C3C0#supplementary-materials #Mithras #RomanBritain #AncientRome #Scotland #EastLothian #Inveresk #Archaeology
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Watching a recorded Treadwells bookshop talk about the Mithras cult in London. And remembering the fairly recent find of an altar to Mithras at Inveresk in Scotland. Many pics viewable in free to read supplementary material for the paywall-locked journal article. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/britannia/article/abs/mithras-in-scotland-a-mithraeum-at-inveresk-east-lothian/544B6233F7F06415EE049C60A827C3C0#supplementary-materials #Mithras #RomanBritain #AncientRome #Scotland #EastLothian #Inveresk #Archaeology
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Watching a recorded Treadwells bookshop talk about the Mithras cult in London. And remembering the fairly recent find of an altar to Mithras at Inveresk in Scotland. Many pics viewable in free to read supplementary material for the paywall-locked journal article. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/britannia/article/abs/mithras-in-scotland-a-mithraeum-at-inveresk-east-lothian/544B6233F7F06415EE049C60A827C3C0#supplementary-materials #Mithras #RomanBritain #AncientRome #Scotland #EastLothian #Inveresk #Archaeology
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Watching a recorded Treadwells bookshop talk about the Mithras cult in London. And remembering the fairly recent find of an altar to Mithras at Inveresk in Scotland. Many pics viewable in free to read supplementary material for the paywall-locked journal article. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/britannia/article/abs/mithras-in-scotland-a-mithraeum-at-inveresk-east-lothian/544B6233F7F06415EE049C60A827C3C0#supplementary-materials #Mithras #RomanBritain #AncientRome #Scotland #EastLothian #Inveresk #Archaeology
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#Roman #Mithras in the snow. #Fellbach
🏺 #archaeology -
#Roman #Mithras in the snow. #Fellbach
🏺 #archaeology
