RSS Feed


UNDULATION
An Unhealthy Interest In Suffering

Self-released (2023)
Rating: 8.5/10

Everything about this – band name, logo, cover art and album title – screams murky death metal, and yet this a black metal outfit from Seattle, Washington. Admittedly, some of the vocals drift into deep growls and there are occasional doomier segments, but overall this is a genuinely intriguing, atmospheric and creative release.

Vocalist The Executioner mostly opts for the crackly, rasping style, but I just love the variety on offer here particularly on a track like ‘Failures Of The Demiurge’ with its sinister lumbering and then niftier strikes. There is always that foreboding air throughout as the creepy introduction leads us into the seething ‘Judith Beheading Holofernes’.

The shifting of pace and vocal styling is impressive. For 28 minutes the listener is lured into a spooky domain of entangled riffs, wiry leads and unholy rasps. Some of the riffs are incredible, just check out the superb ‘Acid, Vinegar’, while closer ‘Dressed For Her Execution’ is so raw and primitive.

There is no doubt in my mind that this is one of the best black metal releases I’ve heard for some time. When it comes to summoning dark forces let this be your soundtrack.

Neil Arnold

<< Back to Album & EP Reviews



Related Posts via Categories
Share