REVIEW: Alukta - Merok

Approaching old customs and traditions with an uncommon style seems to inspire lots of artists, and the same goes for Alukta, the 2023 formed duo from France and Belgium. Inspired by the Toraja people from Indonesia, especially by their elaborate funeral rituals, their debut album, Merok, is a way for the vocalist and instrumentalist Marie and the record master Déhà to mourn and explore the old tribal customs. The six-track long doom metal album is a wonderful combination of doom metal and black metal elements, diving into heavy, yet almost symphonic vocals, accompanied by extensively used drums and guitars.

Right from the beginning of the album, in the second track ‘Laissez entrer ceux qui pleurent’, we can hear a mesmerising blend of heavy drums, guitars and screams, peaking into a beautiful harmony of vocals that is sure to give the listener goosebumps. The clear vocals sound very raw and sad, and together with the melody imply the act of mourning, yet also celebrating the time they spent on the planet with their loved ones. The blend of emotions in the clear vocals and heavy screams is vital for the whole track, as it can be interpreted as giving us a glimpse into the different stages of grief.

On the other hand, the fourth track, bearing the name ‘Kombengi’, is shorter than the other pieces on Merok, but starts off with a quicker tempo, giving the listener a feeling of being personally included in a ritual. Yet again Marie and Déhà combine together the clear, calming vocals of hope with the piercing screams of anger, despair and sadness. The second and fourth track share lots of similarities such as the emotions and use of instruments, but at the same time are unique in their own ways, always bearing unpredictable characteristics that are ready to catch the listener off guard.

The rest of the tracks on the album, such as ‘Aluk To Dolo’ and ‘Des Teintes d’éternité’, are just black doom metal songs, that are well composed, but do not really stand out from the rest, especially since the length of all the tracks is mostly over seven minutes and the listeners can get lost in the sounds quickly, not having a single transition or break to catch their breath.

Overall, Merok is a gracefully composed piece that dives into the traditions of tribal funerals with an ease, introducing the listeners to non-conforming instruments in metal. Although the tracks are very lengthy and often difficult to distinguish, as there is not a single transition in between the songs and so they can sometimes appear repetitive, the unique usage of vocals makes the album interesting to listen to. Alukta have done a great job of establishing themselves on the metal scene, debuting their first album just two years after forming. We will absolutely hear more about the duo in the future, as their work surely will come to the attention of the scene as soon as the album comes out.

Score: 7/10

Merok will be released on May 2nd 2025 via Transcendance.

Words: Katerina Stepanikova

Photos: Alukta