Descend Into Despair - Synaptic Veil (2017)
With their second album, the
seven-piece Romanian group of Descend Into Despair have delivered a
monstrous mass of funereal doom, broken into five uneasy pieces for
slow digestion. A variety of vocal approaches complement the broad
range of instrumental tones and techniques, with slow-boiling rage,
desperation, despair, and anguish brought to light over the course of
the album. There's a bit of an early Opeth feel at times, though
more grounded, not only in terms of solos and riff expansion, but in
the balancing of instrumental work as well. The guitars don't run
off with the show, as all of the members have vital parts in
developing the atmosphere and musical punch. Most of the album can't
really be pinned to any one band for comparison, but the fluidity and
general vibe did have my mind flashing on the Hungarian group
Dreamgrave, whose sophomore album Presentiment managed a
similar sort of sprawling darkness with points of gentle
exquisiteness.
There's such a sense of careful
construction to the songs, with their shifting inner structures, that
it occasionally feels operatic, or at least just majestic. The
ringing out of individual notes allowed full focus, the undercurrents
of swirling bass, assemblages of quick-turn dramatic breakdowns and
hard impacts, and on and on... DID have turned out an excellent and
impressive album here, and having it be just their second full-length
points to a compelling future for the group. Fans of ambitious metal
that doesn't allow itself to be boxed into the usual traditions, do
yourself a favor and get a copy of this album, then set aside some
time so you can listen to it with full attention. Damn good.
~ Gabriel
For Fans Of; Dreamgrave, Funerary,
Temple of Gnosis, Thergothon, A Thousand Sufferings
~
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