20. August 2025
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Media Review

Azure Emote – Cryptic Aura

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Azure Emote - Cryptic Aura

Azure Emote - Cryptic Aura
4.8

Rating

 4.8/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Ten very high quality songs
  • Complex and very versatile plots

As part of my 25th July 2025 album reviews, let’s do some Avant-garde death metal. The US-American band Azure Emote is releasing their fourth studio album overall, Cryptic Aura. Here is my review.

 

Azure Emote – About The Artists

Azure Emote is an Avant-garde death metal band from the United States. They have been formed in 2003 in Philadelphia and had a hiatus between 2007 and 2011. The most prominent band member is Mike Hrubovcak, who is the singer and keyboarder of the band. The other band members are Mike Heller (drums), Ryan Molls (guitars, bass), Kelly Conlon (bass) and Pete Johansen (violin). Azure Emote have released three albums so far. The debut record was Chronicles of an Aging Mammal (2007). Thereafter, they released The Gravity of Impermanence (2013) and The Third Perspective (2020).

 

Azure Emote – Cryptic Aura – Track by Track

The ten song album lasts 42 minutes.

1. Into Abysmal Oblivion

Practically all tracks of the album roughly range between a four and five minute duration. So does the opener, Into Abysmal Oblivion. The song quickly kicks off and follows the typical sound of the band. Thereby, especially Pete Johansen and his violin lead to a special touch. On top of that Azure Emote nicely leverage between the dark death metal elements and melodic parts of the song.

2. Insomnia Nervosa

The second track of Cryptic Aura is Insomnia Nervosa. Again, the US band understands to create a nice plot between brutal metal element, rocking parts and fine melodies. In the latter ones, I again love the violin. Despite very contrasting elements, the song has a lovely flow.

3. Aeons Adrift

Aeons Adrift welcomes the listener with hammering drums and powerful riffs. Mike Hrubovcak leaves some 45 seconds to the instruments, before he joins in. A very dramatic plot, which has a very atmospheric instrumental part in the middle, is the heart of this track.

4. Bleed With The Moon

Bleed With The Moon is the first song of the album, which has already been released before. After an energetic opener, there is a mystic, atmospheric section. But, of course, Azure Emote rock thereafter again. Overall, the song is another impressing one.

5. Defiance Infernus

Defiance Infernus starts rather quietly with the violin and some background sounds. Finally the song turns into one of the most intense listens of the album. The beginning is hymnic, but the dark metal energy increases during the dramatic listen. Cool one!

6. Provoking The Obscene

Provoking The Obscene comes with some interesting melodic and vocal elements right at the beginning of the listen. Thereafter, the song keeps presenting versatile, The general signature of Cryptic Aura are the metal elements, but there are so many different elements in it, which keep the album an entertaining listen.

7. Disease Of The Soul

Cryptic Soul now presents two previous single releases in a row. The first one is Disease Of The Soul. This one is having a very nice and strong dramatic profile again. Choir-alike backing vocals and some almost Oriental melodic elements lead to a special touch.

8. Feast Of Leeches

Thereafter, Azure Emote take you to the Feast of Leeches. Despite being one of the shorter tracks of the album, there is again quite a range of elements in stock. This is sometimes surprising, you find something new at a repeated listen and keeps the album very attractive.

9. Return To The Unknown

The ninth track starts with a narrative part – another element, which hasn’t been on the album so far as such. A cineastic listen, whose stunning plot makes it even feel longer and more complex than it actually is.

10. Writhing Lunacy

Writhing Lunacy is the shortest song of the album. The chucker-out works a lot with theatrical elements. There is frightening panting, church bells, screams. The guitars and other instruments play a subordinate role. The final act of the album keeps it memorable.

 

Azure Emote – Cryptic Aura – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Azure Emote – Cryptic Aura – My View

Cryptic Aura is complex, versatile, virtuous, stunning, frightening – but it is not boring at all. The ten songs lead to a very entertaining and interesting listen. Five years after their last release, Mike Hrubovcak and his Azure Emote underline that they still have a really magical touch.

Favorite Song: Defiance Infernus

 

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