DOWNFALL OF GAIA revel in post-black brilliance.
Ethic Of Radical Finitude
METAL BLADE
German miserablists mourn the folly of man
Germany’s Downfall of Gaia have carved out a pretty unique niche during the last decade. Beginning life as a rudimentary post-metal outfit, over four full-lengths and several splits each release has become more visceral, aggressive and imaginative than the last
2016’s Atrophy was their nastiest release yet, bringing an overt black metal influence to the fore alongside the kind of epic, windswept crust vibes bands like Fall Of Efrafa used to specialise in. Rather than just being another band who hamfistedly pinch a Cult Of Luna riff here, a WITTR riff there, and muck about with some delay for a bit before calling it a day, Downfall Of Gaia’s collective influences really gelled into a distinct sound all of their own.
This fifth album continues in the same vein, but with a little bit more nuance and subtlety; whereas Atrophy seldom took its foot of the accelerator, Ethic… allows its five lengthy tracks more breathing room, taking more scenic routes through the band’s atmospheric side whilst ensuring the more furious black metal sections hit especially hard by contrast.
Guided Through A Starless Night offers the best of both worlds, as a delicate riff that sounds like Explosions In The Sky might do after having all their optimism removed explodes into a black metal blitzkrieg, with guitarist Dominik Goncalves dos Reis and bassist Anton Lisovoj trading shrieks and bellowing Aaron Turneresque roars. We Pursue The Serpent Of Time builds to a colossal crescendo with driving yet melancholic chords complemented by blastbeats from Michael Kadnar – and when he opens up into a series of dazzling, intricate fills over the top, the effect is nothing short of invigorating. Closer Of Withering Violet Leaves even introduces some clean, chanted vocals, ending the record on a truly hypnotic note, like His Hero Is Gone spacing out to the first Ulver LP.
Accessible, powerful and refined, hopefully Ethic… will bring the band’s emotive post-black-crust – or whatever you want to call it – to a wider audience.
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FOR FANS OF: Svalbard, Fall Of Efrafa, Altar
Of Plagues