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Oh yeah, have I got some auditory goodies for you today, boys and girls. The unrelenting heatwaves may be coming to an end, but I will keep you nice and warm with these next treats of the dissonant variety. So grab your fleece, a hot cup of cocoa, and sit around a cozy fire to take in these releases sure to increase the circulation to your loins.
Ethereal Wound – Trauma | Divine (October 17)
The Portuguese duo known as Ethereal Wound are back with their second EP for the year; however this is not just some retreading of previous ideas. Where their first release Eclipse | Advent was an offering of straightforward blackened death metal, Trauma | Divine leans much heavier on the blackened side with a healthy dose of melody added for extra effect. Here we see just how well two contrasting ideas coming together can create a harmonious relationship. Harsh atonal attacks married with catchy and near-uplifting guitar melodies truly make this feel like a step up from their already impressive debut EP.
Only 4 tracks in length, Trauma | Divine passes by at a breakneck pace, but that only instills an itch in me to start it over again. Continuing with the manga Berserk as inspiration, the brutality of the source material translates into the harsh yet welcoming music. Track 3, entitled “Master,” is a wonderfully crafted piece of metallic pain and realization that is just a part of the journey the story’s main character traverses through. The tremolo break at the 1:20 mark is a perfect encapsulation of the juxtaposition between harrowing and heartening. With this short release, Ethereal Wound have undoubtedly thrown their name into the arena for top-tier melodic blackened death metal.
Disentomb – Nothing Above (October 18)
I have a confession to make, dear reader. I am not a fan of Disentomb. Well, I wasn’t a fan until they decided to drop this killer EP where they tone down the non-stop brutal death metal tropes and focus on such things as strong riffs, evolving ideas, and more musicality—all flavored with a bit of atonality, making for a beast of a listen. Now if you are a fan of their previous material, fret not, as there still remains the trademark gurgles, blasts, and punishing palm-muted madness, but now they’re an aspect of the songs and not the only components. Enough brutality remains to pulverize your cortex however, so be prepared for some neck-snapping moments.
In addition to the expansion of dissonant ideas, Nothing Above also isn’t afraid to sprinkle in a little blackness into the compositions as well, adding to their apparent sonic maturation. The only thing really holding this back personally is the veeerrrryyy heavily triggered drums, which remain a staple for brutal death metal acts, but if that isn’t something that bothers you, then I can really see no fault in the precise execution of every note. Another 4 song sampling, Nothing Above just might be the appetizer I needed before diving back into Disentomb’s discography.
Ploughshare – Second Wound (November 8)
Let us head to the Southern Hemisphere for this next entry. Ploughshare are a group that I had no prior knowledge of, but this group from Canberra, Australia definitely left quite the impression on me after listening to just the 2 available tracks for their upcoming LP entitled Second Wound. Engaging, yet unsettling, the barrage of noise and shrieks move through you to remind you that their still exists darkness in the world that will remain a constant in the back of humanity’s mind forever. Blending black metal with sludge elements, all topped off with a heavy dose of dissonance, this mysterious project has crafted something dense, haunting, and engaging.
Long form black metal is nothing new, but it is definitely something a majority of the bands performing it seem to struggle with, both in conception and execution. If you are one who enjoys challenging musical material, then there is a plethora here to enjoy. Second Wound does not hold your hand, but it will guide you down a swirling tunnel of darkness and despair. With other releases by acts such as LVME, Ploughshare have managed to fully capture my attention and make my head spin simultaneously. Just check out the 11.5-minute titan of a track “The Mockery of the Demons” to get a full experience of the swirling guitars, creative drumming, and piercing shrieks that act as an anchor in your skin as the music crawls its way into you. Mileage will vary depending on your enjoyment on such things as this.
