Australian band Estrangement bring together the gloom of Funeral Doom Metal and the maudlin sorrowful tones of Neoclassical harmonies, to forge a sound that would also appeal to some of a Black Metal persuasion. Released on CD via Aesthetic Death a full eight long years after their last release, debut album ‘Disfigurementality’ is an expansive, hour long ode to woe!

Following a slow, haunting intro track, the album sluggishly ignites into ‘Detritivore’, which I’m guessing is someone or something that feasts solely on life’s detritus. An extremely interesting track, one that wallows in the depths of sorrow and mournful abandonment and yet manages to rise out of its funk and drop some unexpected Black Metal aggression for a short burst before once more miring itself in a perpetually bleak mood.

I like how Estrangement offer up dark melodic interludes such as ‘Belong Beneath’ in which the cello and violin reign supreme, whilst tracks such as ‘The Light Unshown’ allow the wandering guitar leads to steal the show, whilst more depressive violin undertones are allowed to mournfully ooze their way forward to the accompaniment of deathly growls and the flighty care free tones of the flute.

For an album of an hour’s length, ‘Disfigurementality’ swiftly flies by, which is a strange thing to say about an album of tremendously slow and ponderous melodies. However, this opus is magnificently crafted and blends so many influences together it is hard not to be mesmerised by it. It gets better with every listen and has been well worth the eternal wait.

(8.5/10 Marksson)

https://www.facebook.com/estrangementdoom

https://estrangement.bandcamp.com/album/disfigurementality

https://www.aestheticdeath.com/releases.php?mode=singleitem&albumid=5699