Yes, it is actually a real word and Unfelled refers to trees that have not been cut down. Sticking with that subject this project was originally conceived by musician D of highly regarded Australian outfit Woods Of Desolation. Expanding the line-up for debut album he has acquired the skills of vocalist Mitch from Austere and drummer Vlad from Ukrainian’s Drudkh. Naturally all three of them are involved in various other bands but just mentioning these few should be enough to have you salivating at the prospect of Pall Of Endless ‘Perdition’
The seven tracks here are lofty and towering examples of windswept black metal. Opener ‘An Epoch In Bloodshed’ has a grandiosity about it and there is poise and precision amidst the trembling riffs, thumping drums and gravid vocal screams. Melody is strong and some cleaner vocal roars and the furrowing strength within give this a similar feel to the pagan might of our own Winterfylleth. Slaughter subtly evoked ‘The Opposer’ takes us into all out massacre with no quarter given. This is a vicious and furious onslaught which is driven by rage. Screams litter the air and it blazes away with decimating intent. There are some backing chants here but urgency and spite are never diminished and if you are looking for a quick fix introduction this number is guaranteed to chop your head off your shoulders.
‘Wreathed Wings’ serves as a flailing tumult of fast strumming riffs before concentrating on underlying melodicism, drums bouncing throughout. It sounds like a mixture of the first two numbers and from now to culmination of the album there’s a fluid merging of aggression and harmonising with plenty of adrenaline via bursts of speed and more groove laden parts. The cleave of the title track is humongous and when interspersed with jagged riffing it chops and churns getting right under the skin. Strangely they leave it till penultimate track ‘Evanescent’ to temper things down with some acoustic atmospheric folk music. It works well in placement even if one might have anticipated it earlier on and provides focus for concluding piece ‘A Diadem Embattled,’ leaving the band to uproot everything left standing.
With a concise 36-minute running time this is an album that is quick to get to grips with and one that really does sound exactly what you might expect from those involved. Even if it doesn’t deliver any big surprises it’s a solid album and should act as a good precursor to ‘Corrosion Of Hearts’, the upcoming Austere album scheduled for April.
(7.5/10 Pete Woods)
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