A state of nothingness for 13 years and then two albums delivered within the space of just one. For whatever reason Australian musos Mitchell Keepin and Tim Yatras found the necessary spark to resurrect Austere, I’m sure nobody is complaining. Not only this but they have also, with expanded line-up got their first live performances under their belts and are poised to play at their label’s annual Prophecy Fest and other select dates later in the year. The former will also see them joined by Yatras performing with Germ, something that is equally an unexpected event. They should be happy but rest assured this state of joy has not spread into the music they create. After all, the players in early years adopted the monikers Desolate and Sorrow for a reason and along with more than a small dash of depressiveness and moroseness we come to Beneath The Threshold. Thankfully with the touch of darkness there is always a beauty found within.

First track ‘Thrall’ has a magical guitar intro that would not be out of place on a Fields Of The Nephilim album. The gothic shimmering moves into powerful atmospheric doom laden melody and wretched rasping vocals. There’s thick bottom end and some high guitar screeches ringing out with anguish. Both musicians vocalise and Yatras is on hand with his expressive clean croons, perhaps there is hope here somewhere. One thing’s for sure, it won’t take more than a couple of listens to this song, for its overriding themes and hooks to be embedded firmly in your consciousness. Yes, you will be in thrall! ‘The Sunset Of Life’ brings knowledge of all that has been endured throughout it The enriching signature guitar weave looks back on things nostalgically and although lyrics are not provided one gets the feeling that it is a reflection on a life once lived. Fans of Katatonia at their hookiest will be reeled right in to the graceful and beseeching flow. Those airy clean tones are there to cling onto but then so one feels, is the shadow of slow and lingering death. This is an album that the music speaks to you and with blackened roar unleashed this almost ten-minute epic has a far reach that is also consummate and all-consuming in its dark folds.

Life is ultimately extinguished, some may believe the spirit lingers before stepping into the light and that is what it feels like ‘Faded Ghost’ is expressing with its heart-wrenching gloomy melody. The cover-art expresses it all perfectly. This dreamy shorter number is wrought with all the stark emotion of a funeral as body is laid to rest. What awaits it though? Well, as the next track is called ‘Cold Cerecloth’ the answer is there in all its decay. I hope as you confront all this you have brought a pack of tissues. Although the grave calls and is cold there is buoyancy at least in this track and along with the acoustic soliloquy of instrumental ‘Words Unspoken’ a yearning to continue for those still clinging to life.

The final epitaph of these six tracks is another epic one ‘Of Severance.’ The chord has been cut and not without a blackened fervour here but with every death there is a birth, something new will emerge and memories of past lives will be retold through new generations. Whether right or wrong this is how the narrative here has told me its solemn tale and with it has provided a profound and gorgeous soundtrack. Drink deep, remember the dandelion wine of youth on an album that reminds you to sup deeply from the cup whilst it still overflows.

(8.5/10 Pete Woods)

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