You couldn’t miss Arka’n Asrafokor.
The band hails from Togo, and began to make a name for themselves in 2019 with the release of their debut album, which slowly forged them a reputation in the Thrash/Groove Metal sphere, which they blend with the culture of their country, naming their style “asrafocore” (“the music of warriors”).
In 2023, Rock Ahavi (guitar/vocals), Francis Amevo (bass), Richard Siko (drums), Mass Aholou (percussion) and Elom Ahavi (keyboards/vocals) signed to Reigning Phoenix Music, and a year later unveiled Dzikkuh, their second album.
The band immediately attacks with The Truth, mixing energetic riffs with much more soaring percussion parts and backing vocals, immediately creating an interesting contrast. The rhythmic groove is undeniable, especially during the breaks, as well as on Not Getting In Line, which promises a catchy charge to support their vindictive message and sharp leads on this jerky base. This devastating approach is continued on Walk With Us, where the vocal parts diversify with a touch of Rap that strangely fits in with this clash of cultures, and allows a fluid transition to the more aggressive parts or to the singing elements of Angry God Of Earth, the following composition. We have obvious raw Old School roots, but the track is quite short, and quickly hands over to Mamade, where Folk elements predominate at first, even offering an unexpected sweetness. The ferocity of the dissonant harmonics returns, alternating with calm passages, before returning to the battlefield to the sound of Asrafo‘s blades, where the tempo instinctively accelerates to allow the band to place furious double kick and varied vocal parts. We discover other influences on the opening moments of Final Tournament, but the band easily returns to its stirring basics, albeit with a more distant voice on the break, then we come face to face with hints of Nu Metal on Still Believe, a fairly accessible and relatively unifying track. Another moment of Togolese-influenced gentleness with the break of Home, which literally contrasts with the two parts that surround it, then The Calling closes the album in tones close to those of a Power Ballad, with its soothing parts and, of course, its heavier choruses.
Although far from our Western culture, Arka’n Asrafokor have managed to strike a balance between Old School Thrash/Groove and their own influences. Dzikkuh will intrigue, provoke and surprise an uninformed audience, but above all, it will make its mark and get the pits moving.
75/100