Finland’s Flail have been busy in 2020 with a self-titled cassette compilation that pulled the two songs from the similarly self-titled EP released in 2019, plus the two tracks from the ‘Distant Wanderings’ EP onto one release as that latter EP was also released separately on vinyl by Ravdvs at about the same time. That latter EP gave a good grounding for this full length with both songs plunging the listener into vats of outright suicidal depressive morosity that has been capitalised superbly within the four constructions offered here.
Depressive black metal hasn’t always been a genre I’ve branched into or reviewed, it’s one of those scenes I’ve dipped into over the years when I’ve wanted something utterly despairing to listen to as acts like Nocturnal Depression, Abandoned By Light, Psychonaut 4 and Hypothermia have given me that intense therapeutic outlet. Flail can be sincerely added to that list as each of their four compositions drowns you in enveloping sorrow as opener ‘Carbon And Blood’ epitomises how this genre can pin you back with unending desolating anguish, draining your soul with piercing guitar work as the song initiates with a calming eerie sequence that possesses a macabre aura. As the song gathers momentum the drum work has a chaotic feeling that appears random at first before gradually coalescing within the lo-fi sound. The barbaric harsh vocals are used sporadically as the song has backing atmospherics that seem to drift along within the song as though carried by a glacial undercurrent. Cymbal work is highly prominent and emphasises the tonally high mix as the song falls into a chaotic abyss where that drum work possesses its own sequencing afar from the rest of the song.
The grim fade-in to ‘Marooned In Penance’ is accompanied by wailing croaked vocals as the track feels a tad denser here creating a claustrophobic nuance that allows an oppressive choking quality. As the song continues you get that unnerving feeling that something it about to happen and indeed it does as a muffled double kick ensues before the track tumbles into a funereal dirge. At times the song feels tortured with a bereft inhumanity as the shrieking vocals meander hazily in the background like ghostly manifestations as again the song utilises cymbal emphasis to great effect.
The colossal epic ‘Leaden Sights’ spans nearly the fifteen minute mark and begins with a sort of monastic styled atmospheric creepiness. As the guitar work filters in the aura becomes utterly bleak slithering with sinuous horror amidst a crawling haunting backdrop. With the torturous vocals lingering menacingly the music has a funereal touch which is sideswiped with momentary glimpses of speed. As the song progresses it pauses to leave just guitar and bass briefly as the drum work returns and sees the song slightly increase in pace to good effect. You could even say it’s relatively upbeat! The song has a cyclical nature as it returns to original riffing base before dissolving towards its conclusion with a gradual fade out phase. Closing the album is the much shorter ‘Pristine Emanations’ which is grimly morose with embedded despondency that oozes from its sonic pores. The vocals seem far more focused and prominent here, with a harsh potency that projects with far more vitriol but it could be just me noticing them more. As the song develops you hear occasional hooks added that you wonder whether you heard them or not. I did actually play the sections again repeatedly to confirm and did indeed hear them as the evocative misery of the song continues through what sounds like a backing effect that is dispersed throughout as though it was recorded on a really windy night concluding the album in fine suffering style.
For all those in need of sonic melancholy, Flail offer you a purging catharsis within four doleful, desolate, depressive compositions.
(8.5/10 Martin Harris)
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