This band's first album scored a 9 with us, which is pretty impressive. I went into that one already a fan of Ephel Duath. It was an easy sell, and they went above and beyond, There is more of a crusty hardcore undercurrent to this one. It is almost like faster Neurosis. The vocals have more of a scathing howl to them than a growl. There are even sung vocals. There is a sonic dissonance to the riff propelling the second song up from the abyss. The odd use of angular vocal melodies and the weird vibe of the song is going to take some time to sit with. The eerie manner in the guitars sets an ominous stage, as the thunder lurks behind the stalking chug. The drummer seems always eager to throw down and put his foot on the gas.
I appreciate the dark tone of this album. It is not just fuelled by the kind of aggression that normally takes the wheel for this sort of thing. The deliberate riffing continues to keep the drummer in check. It is not until four songs in that they join him to cut loose and even then it is not a reckless speed fest. The throbbing bleakness continues with "Messianic Alteration". The pounding slowly builds as the album get's angrier as it progresses. This finds things accelerating to more of a grateful storm on "Inner Voice'. I do not mind the storm since I know I can rely on them to shift the dynamics sooner rather than later. I am sure the drummer is glad to get some of those blast beats out of his system. They prove me right with "Overlord' which moves with the creepy grace of doom. It is the album's darkest moment so far. So you know I love it.
"Not in Control" blasts with more fury, though there is more of a deliberate groove in places. They continue barreling with unrelenting thunder. I like the way sung vocals are used on this album. It's not in a predictable formula. "Endless Ravine" has a more cavernous storm to it. At times it is not far removed what Tombs' less black metal moments. "Vindication" is the first song where the overt heaviness begins to wear a little thin. Granted it is 11 songs in. "Self Harm Scars" is more like sludged-out death metal. Then is takes a more melancholic turn towards a rawer vision of death doom, that does not have Peaceville aspirations. Despite the way, the somewhat gothy-sung vocals wander in. The cadence of the harder vocals begins to have a uniform feel this deep into the album.
The last song that follows an ambient interlude, finds them hovering around mood. I appreciate this but when they were simmering your ears in the storm of riffs earlier it might have been more unique to have some of these sounds woven into it. As the closing song drones more it develops into something worthy of climaxing this album. Despite my qualms regarding how this album peters out, give it a 9, as the bulk of it is pretty great and upholds the mission statement of their artistic vision occupying a space in heavy music we need more of. This album is being released on May 10th on Hammerheart Records.
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