Exiled From Agartha – “The Cost Of Humanity”

The album “The Cost of Humanity” hits with huge energy right from the very first second. Looking closely at the cover artwork, you notice a skeletal figure tightly wrapped in white cloth and heavy chains while countless bony hands reach in from all sides with sharp metal hooks. Skulls pile up at the bottom beneath the bold purple logo. That striking visual fits the heavy sound on this record perfectly.

Ten tracks make up the full release: “Sent to the under Realm”, “Nourishing the Orphan”, “Maimed & Mangled”, “Bleeding The Leech”, “Obeisance”, “Death Root”, “Affirming the Transformation”, “Reflections in ruin”, “The Cost of Humanity”, and “Reflections In Ruin SPECIAL EDITION”. Every single chapter brings a massive wall of sound filled with crushing guitars and brutal screams.

Two songs stand out as absolute favorites. First, “Sent to the under Realm” starts things off with incredible intensity, mixing heavy whammy bar effects, screams, and strings that push the track into a wild beast of a song. Another top pick is “Reflections in ruin”, which delivers a catchy chorus, two guitar solos, ringing bells, and a massive breakdown at the end that leaves you breathless.

The music relies on huge 8 string guitar riffs and layered string parts to build a dark atmosphere. Recording took place at home before mixing work went out to professional studios in Queensland and the Netherlands, featuring guest vocalists and guest guitar players who bring different textures to the tracks. Six different vocalists share the microphone across the album, adding variety to every single song. The mixing keeps everything sounding massive while holding onto a raw edge.

For me, this release is an incredible achievement for Michael Low. Putting so much personal pain and raw emotion into heavy music takes real courage, and the results speak for themselves. The project proves that intense metal can hold genuine depth and power without losing its edge.

Make sure to check out the artist’s previous releases to hear more music in this style. Make sure to follow Exiled From Agartha to stay updated about new releases for the rest of this year.

Exiled From Agartha

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