It’s an obvious joke to make for Anglophiles interested in cuisine from the sub-continent, but Faal are really comparable to the legendary black phaal, a curry that originated in theWest Midlands, but has subsequently spread throughout the world. Why? Because it’s extreme, can cause extreme pain for those unaccustomed to the sensations it produces, but can be adored by aficionados.

This four track EP, “The Clouds are Burning”, displays Faal at their most extreme. Playing a mix of utterly glacial funereal doom in the style of Esoteric et al, there are also black metal elements thrown into the mix, to further enhance the misery for your listening pleasure. Thus, while the sparse jangling guitar echoes through the mix, shrill shrieks and discordant sounds also assault the senses. At times, actually, I was surprised to hear cleanish sections with gentle atmospheric electronics and crystal clear guitars – a temporary lull in the storm, if you will – where I was very strongly reminded of the atmosphere conjured up by Anathema on their “Silent Enigma” album. These moments, such as on “My Body Glows Red” appear and then are over quickly in the content of the overall length of these tracks, which are between 6 minutes at the quickest, and at 13 minutes for the truly epic title track.

As with the curry, this isn’t going to be the taste of everyone. Those of a doomy nature will, of course, be happy to explore the dense imaginary mindscapes that are produced by the music. I suspect that those with a love for black metal will also find that the music here will also be to their satisfaction, as there is enough raw sonic energy reverberating around to keep their bristling little ears occupied. Mainstream metal fans, however, are unlikely to have the patience nor the inclination to sit through the titanic pace of these tracks, nor to seek catharsis through the misery and angst on display. That being said, those of us with an interest in all things slow and unhappy will find enough innovation and musical ability here to keep us happy. Not bad at all.

(6.5/10 Chris Davison)

 http://www.thecloudsareburning.com