In a time where the modern human psyche often seems obsessed with evolution, advancement, expediency and a so called constant slope of increase, all too undervalued and unspoken on is the art of dismantlement. Reduction. The mastery of nuance and a deeper understanding of time. The ability to sit in a space, perhaps at times unmoving to feel the moments weight and presence. Perceptions of pacing are often equated aesthetically and symbolically: ‘Blistering hyper-blasts’ or ‘Molasses like doom’ - Yet, more important than anything, one should not be the often too quick to judge a concept based solely on the aspect of movement, but perhaps instead of intent, texture and feeling. Both of these bands exist as far deeper sums of what is often a quick to categorise sound, and display that innovation, atmosphere, and overall feeling from the result is still the most crucial aspect in the fire of creation regardless of pace, time, or space. Irregardless of ones own interest in ‘doom’, the pure and immediate feeling of weight, sound, atmosphere and emotion produced by the band is unquantifiable. The long running hybrid Netherlands / Slovenia based quintet bring forth a truly sinister, emotive and occult presence with perhaps one of their finest offerings and the sole track here, Bells of Fire. The signature clean and twisting vocals from Jaka Vatovec float and haunt like a specter caught in eternity just above the depths of cataclysmic doom and beauty provided by the rest of the band. Heart-wrenching low tuned harmonies struggle through and emanate from the abyss only to be choked and dragged down back into the dark. Abysmal Canadian sludge with a rotten, bass heavy tone, all encompassing of any light or joy. Blackened vocals choke and spew over ten-tonne beyond fuzzed out riffage. The charred remains of a great fire of destruction, slowly thrashing in agony, burned alive to be born again new. Underneath the scorched wasteland like atmosphere roll out a new and fresh take for the genre: Rather complex yet subtle rhythmic shifts and unexpected turns, particularly on the 2nd track, Poisoned Wine. Intricacies of slow tectonic shift and feedback reveal again, there’s more here than meets the ear. That in fact through this recording, ones soul (if one believes in such an awful thing) is in jeopardy. That once hidden truths are revealed, there is no hiding them. - Brandon Hill (Cloud Rat / Fantastique / Starved Relations)
