Crumbling buildings, devastation, rain: the scene is set. The picture on the sleeve serves as backdrop to the spooky and sad world that Australian band Wither portray. Steadiness, a constant but discreet whistling and croakings are central to this essentially post metal doom piece. It takes its time but still moves forward. A guitar solo can be heard in the distance. It is the guitar which plays out the opening track “Sonar Sphere” quietly before the insistent riff of “Chromatic” rings out. The Forgotten Tomb like vocals whisper like a lonely man hearing his own echo in a forest. There’s a bit of Finland about this too. The occasional splash of colour emerges from the guitars, and the pace picks up, but it’s still all very chasmic and melancholic. It was no surprise then to find a track called “Lament”. Now slow and tortuous, this frankly doesn’t break new ground. It doesn’t stretch beyond the lament though, and with the deliberately flattened sound, the sadness doesn’t extend into majesty or anything else for that matter. It’s sad of course and there’s screaming but none of it is overwhelming.

“Necropolis” wasn’t getting into my psyche. I think the vocals on “Cosmos” were intended to be dreamy but came across instead as dreary. The guitar work is steady and unadventurous. One thing which did strike me about the guitar line as I listened to “Seeming” is how similar it is to Katatonia in style. The vocals could be too but they are without feeling. Moreover, if I want to listen to Katatonia, I’ll listen to Katatonia. The ending cranks up but doesn’t lead anywhere. Deep organ sounds signal the start, middle and end of “Lost”. Nothing happens at all. In fact it seems to be a prelude to the ponderous “Transpression” which closes out this underwhelming album. It’s as if Wither are devoid of ideas. Reflective, contemplative and to be fair with an atmospheric and powerful air, “Transpression” leaves us in a trance for a few minutes but ultimately I’m not sure where this has all taken us to.

“Necropolis” is ok in moments but it just never got going or made any sort of mark. For me, it lacked character or identity.

(4/10 Andrew Doherty)

http://www.aurora-australis.com.au/releases/AAR_008.htm