DIRGE

Lost Empyrean

DEBEMUR MORTI pRODUcTIOns Gallic atmospheric sludge heavyweights broaden their scope Dirge have come a long way since their 1988 debut,

Down, Last Level. Though they’ve gradually stripped away their clanking industrial sound, the spectre of Godflesh’s tight, mechanised pulse still looms over Lost Empyrean’s seven rhythmic post-metal epics here. However, it’s also the band’s most densely textured release yet, forgoing the minimalism of yore in favour of luscious, yearning guitar lines, swirling full-bodied pads and more reverb than Robert Smith’s pedalboard. The glorious, spiralling leads on The Burden Of Almost and stunning closer

Sarracenia elevate their trademark, erm, dirge to a whole new level.

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FOR FANS OF: Neurosis, Cult Of Luna, Minsk

KEZ WHELAN