Review: Ba’al – The Fine Line Between Heaven and Here
Ba’allin
Formed in the steel city of Sheffield in the UK, Ba’al has begun to make an impact in the UK underground scene; their sound that mixes post-metal with black metal has got them some recognition. Members of the band includes their bassist, Richard Spencer, who has also done bass for Ethereal Shroud’s killer atmospheric black metal record (Trisagion) as well as Joe Stamps who is also currently the vocalist for cult symphonic black metal band, Hecate Enthroned. After a promising debut in Ellipsism and an EP in Soft Eyes last year, they are now on their second album release with The Fine Line Between Heaven and Here.
Starting off this album is “Mother’s Concrete Womb” that does a fantastic job displaying what Ba’al can do—they’re on fire here. The execution of the blend between post-metal and black metal elements is great; I really like the vocal delivery from Joe as it has that blackened feel as well as having a clean delivery that feels fitting for what the band wants to achieve. They have a good mix of Inter Arma and Amenra in the sound as well. The next track “Waxwork Gorgon” starts with a nicely chilled intro and has some really cool guitar riffing.
Next in the tracklist is “Floral Cairn,” showing off the more aggressive side of the band’s sound. The variety in the guitar riffs is very nice from the grooves to the transition into the fast and aggressive black metal style. This track is another example of the band’s vocal range: it begins with aggressive vocals and as the song progresses, it includes an emotional spoken word passage before returning to a heavier delivery, showing off the uniqueness that you’ll hear from Ba’al. Another hard-hitting song on this album comes with “Well of Sorrows” that thrives in its aggression as well as having some lovely melodic riffs. The addition of a little guitar solo is brilliant and adds an extra layer that you wouldn’t expect.
“The Ocean That Fills a Wound” starts softly with the bass sounding big. The cleaner vocals also are a neat change of pace. What makes this song stand out is the progression from the softer opening to extreme aggression in a transition that works seamlessly. This is another song that succeeds through its variety across its 13-minute runtime. Closing off the album comes “Legasov” that starts up with a bit of dissonance in the sound. Once again, the vocal performance hits hard, as do the well-executed guitar leads. This is a strong conclusion to what has been an enjoyable an interesting journey through the record.
Ba’al has really stepped up with The Fine Line Between Heaven and Here. It’s a fantastic blend of the blackened sound and post-metal. The variety this album has is quite immense and is supported by a great array of musicians standing out in various areas and an impressive vocal performance that adds layers, emotion, atmosphere and aggression. For something that’s over an hour long, the variety in The Fine Line Between Heaven and Here helps listeners stay invested throughout the journey. It’s something that most bands in this style can easily struggle with (outside the likes of Cult of Luna, The Ocean as well as Inter Arma and Amenra as previously mentioned). I can see Ba’al gaining even more traction in the UK’s underground extreme metal scene with this release, and they deserve it.
4.5/5 Flaming Toilets ov Hell
The Fine Line Between Heaven and Here is out Friday via Road to Masochist.
