This is truly something a little different. References to Sepultura, The Hu and Soulfly are made in the accompanying blurb, and they aren’t wrong. A quick internet search finds an article that proclaims at Arka'n Asrafokor are the only heavy metal band in Togo. Now, I’m no expert on African metal, but I cannot argue with that statement, even if it’s because I simply cannot name another band from that continent.
So, what do we get in this album? Well, plenty of creativity, tribal art and a unique sound that simply gets into the soul and stays there There is plenty of heaviness, crushing groove-filled riffs that remind you of early Slipknot, plus driving death/thrash metal, as on second track Not Getting in Line. They play with an accomplished sound, mixing nu-metal with plenty of other genres, making Dzikkuh a totally engaging listen from start to finish.
Releasing their debut album Zã Keli in 2019, I’m afraid they’ve simply flown under the radar until now. A listen to a few tracks from that album suggests that Arka'n Asrafokor have upped their game, for Dzikkuh is substantially heavier in every department.
The lead vocals switch with the harsh and rap style of Enrico Ahavi with an ease that makes them a band you desperately want to see live. It’s the type of sound that would blow you away if you caught them in a tent at Bloodstock festival. Band leader Rock Ahavi is no slouch on the guitar, and with Mass Aholou’s sharp edged percussion combined with the battery from drummer Richard Siko, you can’t help but move as the songs flow out of the speakers Walk with Us returns to a 2000’s vibe, with spoken word / rap combining with soaring cleans and driving riffs. It’s the percussion that gives the songs a little extra – along with their embrace of traditional patterns and rhythms. Over the ten tracks that span 45-minutes each track throws something a little different from the previous song. They sing in English, French and native tongue Ewe (if I’m correct), which adds even more flavours to the mix. From the raging burst of Angry God of Earth to the mellow tribal percussion which starts Mamade, providing welcome short-lived respite before a colossal riff kicks in, there’s an evident spiritual side of the band. They can be as explosive as any mind, with the brutal Final Tournament simply bludgeoning.
And as we arrive at the final two songs, the flowing, expansive creativity continues. Home combines some deep tribal elements with punishing Sepultura aggression, and then the finale, The Calling. Just under seven-minutes in length, it’s a beautifully constructed piece of music to finish. Delicate guitar work eases you into the song, which is a much less intense but no less delightful track. Gentle and calming in parts but with a massive riff that brings the tempo up, it’s a simmering track to conclude what is an album I simply cannot stop playing. I invite you to do the same.
Dzikkuh is released on 19th July via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM)
Review by Hutch
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