Tuesday 6 December 2016

Downfall Of Gaia - Atrophy (Album Review)


Release date: November 11th 2016. Label: Metal Blade Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Atrophy – Tracklisting

1.Brood 08:01
2.Woe 08:54
3.Ephemerol 09:23
4.Ephemerol II 02:21
5.Atrophy 06:34
6.Petrichor 05:26

Band Members

Dominik Goncalves dos Reis (vocals/guitar)
Marco Mazzola (guitar)
Anton Lisovoj (vocals/bass)
Michael Kadnar (drums)

Review:

Downfall of Gaia is a group with many shadowy related talents, all within the realm of intense dark metal. They are able to postulate through repetition in speed, made through a mathematician’s hand, which sounds like the strum of heavy distortion, yet they can also build mood and ambiance through a gloomy ensemble of otherworldly sound. This album was made with a mission to tip iron scales and is a significant achievement for this band.

The first track, ‘Brood’, provides a glimmer of hope through a desolate soundscape that transitions to the ferocious awakening of rabid instrument speed in search for blood in harsh distortion, ultimately ending with meaningful tones alongside harsh vocals.

Woe’ is a long distance hurtle with feedback shrills that birth soaring and evocative guitars, wild drums and growled vocals, all creating a tumultuous atmospheric delight.

Ephemerol’ is crafted with a macabre cure injected landscape that bookends the haze manufactured at breakneck speed and the scanning screams of unnatural hoarseness.

Ephemerol II’ is a brief song rendered through cold plucking, processed through trance like reverb. A reliable suppressant for the effects of the disease.

Atrophy’ is a wealthy delivery of murkiness. The fate of the duelling symphonic guitars only benefit from limited lower end and are fully realized when the full frontal brutality of the poisonous toad throat emits its acidic spittle.

In, ‘Petrichor’, the band pokes the beast that resides within the old seminary of black metal and transitions to misty piano for the album closer.

Downfall of Gaia is an entity of darkness that is hungry to make its mark through sound, leaving you thirsty for more with this electronic movement orchestrated in the netherworld

Words by Nick Palmisano

Thanks to Andy at Metal Blade for the promo. Atrophy is available to buy now.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp