Aurora Borealis have existed since around 1994, under the guidance of singer/guitarist and sound engineer Ron Vento (Imperial Crystalline Entombment), who for years has maintained an undeniably high level in musicianship, production and intensity in extreme metal. Although they have worked with various labels, the band’s direction has always been autonomous, meaning many of their releases are self-released and carry a strong underground character. Their style has changed at times due to production, but at its base it remains a fast, aggressive blackened death metal, often through concept albums. Instead of an extensive biography, it is worth noting that their journey begins close to bands like Pessimist and Vital Remains and later evolves toward the more technical fury found in Absu and Centurian.
Disillusioned By The Illusion seems to be among their first non-concept albums, moving away from the conspiracy and sci-fi themes they had until now, in favor of standalone tracks connected mainly through intensity. The result is a record of about 46 minutes that works as a “blistering” presentation of the band’s best elements: aggressive death metal grooves and black metal atmosphere. The opening with “Millisecond Pulsar” clearly shows the style, with intense rhythmic movement and riffs that return to reinforce the impact.
Vento’s technical approach defines both the precision and the speed of Aurora Borealis’ sound, while the production at NightSky Studios gives a clean and direct sound — loud and “up front”. The emphasis is mainly on the interaction of guitar and drums, which work as the main engine of movement. On this record there is more room for heavy grooves to develop. In the second half of the album (such as on “Night Cannibals” and “Those Yet To Come”) the band presents some of the strongest riffs of the year.
The idea of standalone tracks may not be so clear, since the album sounds like a continuous “tunnel” of riffs that becomes increasingly intense. There are tracks that stand out, but they become more apparent after many listens. The first impression is pure violence and aggression, recalling the era of peak US death metal of the early 2000s (Nile-era, Lecherous Nocturne etc.). “Molten Sea” is a characteristic example. Among the more distinctive tracks is “Phase Transition”, which stands out not only for its intensity but also for its strange sci-fi synth/SFX moments (around 0:45 and 2:44), as does the outro of “Darkness His Canopy”.
Although the first half of the record is blistering, the second half “works” better overall. There the rhythm section has more room and some more black metal elements appear. “Night Cannibals” is perhaps the highlight of the record, combining heavy grooves, black metal influences and more prog/death passages. Then, “Those Yet To Come” continues with a more thrash style. This is the peak of the album, as the end comes more abruptly, without much build-up, with “Your Penumbra” closing the record.
There is no doubt about the band’s high level. Aurora Borealis continue to deliver aggressive death metal with incredible precision and intensity. Disillusioned By The Illusion doesn’t bring any huge change to their sound, but it is a successful attempt to loosen their structure a little and give more weight to the groove. It remains a record that perfectly represents their journey: raw, loud and absolutely consistent.
👉 A very strong recommendation.
