If you heard the debut release by Devenial Verdict titled Ash Blind, I would guess that you were impressed and are back to see what the Finnish dissonant and atmospheric death metallers have managed to conjure up now. If you didn’t hear that debut, you’ll be searching for when you have heard this!
That feeling of despondency looms from the start as that murky fog begins to roll in and as everything turns greyscale that feeling in the bottom of your stomach lands as if you know something that may not be the best is about to land. That couldn’t be further from the truth, however, as this is ace. Your gut isn’t playing you about – any hope you may have felt is about to be sucked from your soul yet it feels so right.
The instrumentals are targeted and the atmosphere matches that feeling, then when a perfectly Death Metal vocal lands – it is like the sound of hopelessness. The way that the feelings linger and feel like they are everlasting pays testament to the incredible sound that the band have put together and swiftly has become one of my favourite releases of 2024.
The heaviness, the intricacy of the instruments, the downtuning being matched with higher strings is a fantastic balance and then when throwing in the bass and that vocal, the sound is second to none.
As the album progresses, you will not feel any more optimistic about life, however, you will find yourself completely engrossed in what can only be described as an incredible Death Metal album that builds on that previous release and the entire 51 minutes of this 10-track release will have you held under the shroud of uncertainty.
It’s fair to say that some dissonance can wear thin as you don’t want to be constantly feeling glum, but with Blessing of Despair, you can’t help but keep pressing play and listening again. It’s as if the emotion attaches to your own and become one, almost providing an outlet for whatever darkness is within and it feels good to get it out.
If you are a fan of Death Metal, please give this a listen, it should be pushed far and wide as this is as good as you will hear this year.
Blessing of Despair will be released Friday 4th October 2024 via Transcending Obscurity Records.
Review: Ed Ford
Tracklist
1. I Have Become the Sun
2. Garden of Eyes
3. Moon-Starved
4. Blessing of Despair
5. Shunned Wander
6. The Quietus
7. Solus
8. Counting Silence
9. Cold Lantern
10. A Curse Made Flesh
Online
https://devenialverdictband.bandcamp.com/
http://transcendingobscurity.bandcamp.com/
http://facebook.com/transcendingobscurityrecords
https://facebook.com/DevenialVerdict
http://youtube.com/TranscendingObscurity