Album/EP

Ameonna - Goddess Wept (EP Review)

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Heavy Metal Wordsmith

Jan 17, 2024

7 min read

Ameonna - Goddess Wept
Released: January 16th, 2024

Line-Up:

Alex Koehler | Vocals
Jacob Harmond | Guitar
Pablo Viveros | Drums & Vocals

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The bar has been raised for 2024 as behemoths of the deathcore genre, and ex-Chelsea Grin members Alex Koehler, Jacob Harmond, and Pablo Viveros have reunited to form Ameonna. With the expectation that these three musicians will live up to the legacy that each of them left when departing Chelsea Grin, only one question remains: can they continue to push the bounds of what defines deathcore while reinvigorating the extreme deathcore sounds from the 'MySpace era'? Only time will tell.

For now, let's immerse ourselves into the trio's debut offering to celebrate the long-lasting presence we are bound to experience from this world-class act.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4Z2ALOmvJs

The EP begins with the title track, 'Goddess Wept', which quickly directs us to low-tuned instrumental sounds that are strikingly reminiscent of Chelsea Grin's earlier years. Lasting at only 1:36, this short EP introduction quickly takes us into 'Rain Bringer', where the sounds of thundering storms quickly transition into beefy high-tempo instrumentals. Drummer Pablo Viveros quickly takes the chance to show off his talents with blast beats that are so fast it almost seems unrealistic, while Jacob Harmond produces chuggy, technically focused riffs that send shivers through my spine. It's not long until vocalist Alex Koehler makes his presence known for the first time on this release as he seemingly picks up where he left off in Chelsea Grin by beginning to spit fire into the microphone. Opening lyrics "Ameonna, bring the rain / Cleanse our wretched race and wash us all away / Ameonna, bring the rain / We cannot cure the sickness that we all became" refers to the origin of the group's name. Ameonna, which directly translates to 'rain woman' in Japanese, is a Japanese yōkai thought to call forth rain and is used quite cleverly in this instance.

Koehler's return to form is most welcomed as he flaunts his imposing vocal range with his ear-splitting highs and lower-than-hell lows. Equally impressive behind the mic is drummer Viveros who, as he did during his time in CG, shares unclean vocal duties with Koehler throughout the chorus as they bounce between each other with the lyrics "Twisted, greedy, selfish, empty, hideous, pompous makes me nauseous / I cannot stand the sight of their entitled faces / It turns my stomach inside to choke down these disgraces", adding further layers of depth to the groups intricate sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46gy5STJU9A

Groove-orientated riffs take us into debut single 'Behavioral Health', which continues to build upon the trio's established sound. Harmond's technically focused riffs cement themselves at the core of the track while Koehler dives deeper into his lived experience with substance addiction, which is a topic that remains close to Koehler's heart. Lyricism such as "Tеll me what you see when you’re looking at mе / Just a twisted soul, a lesser human being / Tell me what you see when you’re looking at me / Do I make you sick? You want to see me bleed? Huh? / Tell me what you see when you’re looking at me / Just another addict, criminal, disease." which delivers his message loud and clear, leaving the listener's imagination run wild with the thought of how horrific feeling this way would be. Once again, the duo of Koehler and Viveros sharing vocal duties creates another extraordinary listening experience as the ebbs and flows of both vocalists coming together is something special to behold.

A long, drawn-out instrumental outro takes us into 'Void', which instantly introduces me to a mellow guitar tune, giving Koehler a moment in the limelight as he further explores his struggles with addiction with lyrics such as "You don't know what it's like to face the darkness from within / I'm so ashamed I never turned into a better man" as well as "How did I end up all alone in here again? / At the bottom of the bottle find my broken heart / I tried so hard to be strong but still I fell apart / I've always hit rock bottom where it's all so very dark." Koehler's vulnerable lyricism is the driving force behind what brings this track to life; however, if you pay particular attention to the lyrics while listening along, remember to bring a tissue as Koehler's words are bound to bring a tear to your eye. As the track continues, momentum gathers, and the tempo increases. However, the instrumentals build around Koehler's voice, rather than with his voice, giving extra emphasis on his message. As we pass the track's halfway mark, the tempo of the instrumentals intensifies. Due to the similarities in sounds, I am brought back to Chelsea Grin's 2014 album Ashes To Ashes, which, at the time, revolutionised Chelsea Grin's career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw7UFyYfoDY

As I press play on 'PZN/MND,' I am instantly brought back to the fast tempo with low-tuned instrumentals that these musicians are known for far and wide. Koehler's opening lyrics, "Take everything / Take every piece of me", rings true to his struggles with addiction and the process of asking for help, whether that be from humans, god or other powers that be. Koehler doesn't waste any time to continue describing the life-threatening challenges those who suffer from the disease of addiction go through when trying to achieve long-term sobriety as he screams, "I gave it all and still it's not enough / I don't know what else I can change" and "If only you could see what lives inside of me / push me a little further and you'll surely see". Koehler's vulnerability is commendable; however, other dynamics from this track can't be overlooked. Koehler's impressive vocal range is unmatched by most and manages to put him in the same league as other deathcore greats such as Will Ramos (Lorna Shore), Tom Barber (Lorna Shore/Chelsea Grin), Phil Bozeman (Whitechapel) and even Mitch Lucker (RIP, Suicide Silence). Guitarist Harmond's consistency on this EP is phenomenal; nothing he does is overbearing or underwhelming; instead, he sits in that technical sweet spot for the entirety of the EP, while Viveros' drumming is an assault on the senses, the instrumentalist and vocalist knows no bounds as he smashes his drums as if they owe him money.

As we come to the final track of this release, 'Autumn (A Long Goodbye)' is, as the title suggests, a 'goodbye letter to substances', and an influentially powerful one at that. 'Goodbye letters to substances' is a common practice used throughout addiction treatment facilities all over the world, which is quite possibly where Koehler gathered the idea for this song. Eye-opening lyricism "I hear you whispering / Why do you call to me? / You always cause me pain / Can never turn away / Your hands around my neck / You never let me rest / You took my very best" and "Rather feel the sting of the needle in my vein / Autumn days hang until there's no pain / Praying to be saved but there's not another way / Tied around my neck / I'll go up in flames" but this goodbye letter doesn't only reflect on all of the worst times that Koehler experienced throughout his time in active addiction, it also mentions the good times, before things turned so bleak. This is explored with the lyrics, "You used to bring a smile to my face / The times we shared, I could never replace / A love so dear / A place where I belong / You guided my hand until you steered me wrong". However, if we look at this track purely for its instrumental compositions, it is as equally impressive. Harmond continues to guide the song's direction with his tempo changes and technically focused mindset, while Viveros perfectly maintains the balance between melodic and chaotically heavy. Finishing this EP with an 'all or nothing' mentality, Koehler once again produces a vocal range that is uniquely exceptional.

Goddess Wept is a tasteful dosage of Chelsea Grin's earlier years with an indulging twist; these musicians, particularly vocalist Alex Koehler, have lived extraordinary lives since departing Chelsea Grin. To observe that man bounce back from what he has and write an EP as impressive as this is an unimaginably phenomenal effort. We should all feel blessed to have these three musicians working on music together again.

Welcome back, Alex Koehler, Jacob Harmond and Pablo Viveros; your return is being celebrated across the planet.