Worthless - Dark Expressionism DLP

"Sticking with the theme of “nasty” and “unforgiving”, the final entry in today’s Black Metal Bonanza may have its more melodic moments (with the numbered instrumental interludes, “I”, “II”, and “III” offering a welcome moment of respite from all the flesh-rending fury) but it’s definitely still on the harsher and more harrowing end of the Black Metal spectrum.

Matter of fact, there’s a distinct DSBM feel to the scalding, shrieking vocals on tracks like “Through A Spectral Gate” and “Those Buried By The Dust” which serves to make Dark Expressionism a distinctly uncomfortable listening experience at times, such is the raw emotion and obvious anguish on display.

There’s a similar rawness to the guitars too, especially in the rough, ragged-edged tone the band have chosen, which gives their music a purposefully primitive, though not entirely unrefined, feel.

By contrast the bass work is surprisingly nuanced and melodic (give a listen to “Feeding the Black Soil With Mortal Blood” for a subtle, but noticeable, example of this) while the occasional injection of some crystal-clear lead guitar simply serves to expand the album’s creative palette without robbing it of its primal intensity.

Many of these tracks, particularly the lengthier, more labyrinthine numbers (two of which, “Dreameater” and “Wake of Negativity”, err close to the twenty-minute mark) also possess an unexpectedly hypnotic aura, making it shockingly easy to lose yourself, and lose track of time, while listening to them.

The same could actually be said of the album as a whole too, as while Dark Expressionism runs to almost eighty-seven minutes in length it doesn’t necessarily feel like an excessively long album, such is the ease with which you can find yourself immersed in its grim and godless waters." -No Clean Singing

Double LP on 140g comes with double sided A3 poster.

FFO: Shining, Bethlehem & Nyktalgia