This Austrian bands 2020 release ‘Songs Of Love In The Age Of Anarchy’ was one of puzzling but intriguing dynamics, a band never satisfied with one genre focus they constantly switched styles and riffs to craft an album that was as fascinating as it was bloody heavy. Couple of years on and we get their first true full length complete with some long song titles that tell a story in themselves as I have been very lucky to receive the vinyl again for review. Previously the band amalgamated crust and strains of death metal and to some degree that continues but ingrained into the song writing fabric is hardcore, post-rock, doom, sludge and even a venture into the math rock genres even if not as algebraic as some artists in that latter category.
The title track kicks side one off and noticeably I felt this release had a more sinister eerie aura, produced via the riffing and density but also the smothering sound, all the while offering huge degrees of catchiness, done the Desolat way. With an isolated guitar piece ‘I Wish You The Worst’ continues in a similar vein as that bleak opening riff is accompanied by screeching feedback before the shift to a far more quirky style I particularly like about this band. The hardcore exploits are pretty obvious here but backed against a much deeper vocal style than you’d ordinarily expect as the bands penchant for tempo deviations runs riot.
Calmer and more melodic ‘Hate-Filled Short-Arsed Wee Wanker’ (love the title) follows and whilst you’d expect some sort of barrage with a song title like this the song offers the post-rock hue I’ve hinted at and dare I say a very slight indie-rock feathering, which the band will either agree or disagree with. With mounting tension the song sends sweat rivulets coursing down your spine with its abrasive atmosphere. Straight in and without ceremony ‘Rollercoaster Confusion Is Stable, Confidence Is Luck’ adds more eeriness, utilising the bands sludge approach to the point of doom metal, only far nastier of course. For some reason this tune reminded me in part of 80s Voivod circa their third and fourth albums and again I’m not sure the band would agree but you know what they say about opinions and arseholes… don’t you!
Side 2 starts up and begins with ‘Deaf, Dumb, Blind & Grumpy’, and is probably some prophecy surrounding what I’ll be like in my latter years, as their melding of crust and hardcore is strong but here there’s a touch of punk fuelled vehemence, particularly surrounding the bass work as this three piece creates some of the noisiest yet inflicting music you’re likely to hear, as the harsh vitriolic vocals spit in your face, possessing a venom the genre requires. I really like ‘Maldoror’, its catchy riffing belies its intensity as the vocal tones switch around adding a narrated style as well, which whilst theatrical elevates the song.
The closing triplet of tunes here begins with ‘Thanks, But No Thanks’ as that favoured isolated opening guitar work drifts into a relatively peaceful melody, but you just know the song is going to change, the escalating tension can be felt through the atmosphere and indeed it does, though not quite as in your face as you’d expect. ‘Walls As Symbols Of Stupidity’, believe it or not, has a heavy metal riff to these ears, upbeat and stained with a punk ethos the song is very catchy and leaves ‘You And Everyone Around You Are Total Shite And Deserve To Suffer To Death. Hopefully Everything Ends Soon’ to end the album, and yes that is what the title is. With eerie guitar work and a noisy build up the song gradually unleashes its punishing power and palpable sonic tensive strength. The vocals are especially harsh here, ensuring the song has utter extremity blended to copious riff changes that appear abruptly, but brilliantly, jarring the listener down new avenues as I especially liked how the song ended.
Another fine experimental release from Desolat one brimming with distorted and disturbed ingenuity as I urge you to check this excellent Austrian band out, and I sincerely hope the band ventures to the UK for some dates to see them live.
(8.5/10 Martin Harris)
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