Release Date: November 17th 2023. Record Label: Consouling Sounds / Lay Bare Recordings. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
The Great Liberation Through Hearing - Tracklisting
Belly Ache
Gazing Into Domination
Doom Denker
Feral Summer
The Devil Is Digital
These Snakes
Members
Maurice van der Es - Bass
Gregory Simons - Drums
Mathlovsky - Guitars
Simon Felix - Electronics
Jamal Talibi- Guitars
Review
Instrumental Doom/Sludge Metallers Modder released in my opinion the best Instrumental Sludge Metal album back in 2021 and I believe they’ve achieved that feat again with their epic new album The Great Liberation Through Hearing. Modder have recreated their sound from the ground up by aiming for a harsher, heavier and more penetrative sound that encompasses moments of Psych Metal, Grind, Thrash, Groove, Progressive Metal whilst maintaining their original Doom/Sludge Metal creative stance.
The record is bursting with highly intense melodic energy that even branches out into moments of Cosmic Metal with overflows of Post-Metal sounds throughout the entire album. This feels like a different band compared to their debut album which you’ll experience on the epic opening track of Belly Ache with Modder playing a more volatile blend of Sludge Metal with that newfound Grind based energy. The song never waivers with its delivery of harsh noises, psychedelic interludes and sludgy doomed out guitars.
Modder takes a more SONIC based approach on the second track Gazing Into Domination which has moments of subtle Ambient Post-Rock energy which has a slight PELICAN or ISIS energy within the more mellow parts of the track. However, it’s the subtle interplay between Sludge Metal soundscapes and Doomgaze energy that allows Modder to breathe exciting new life into the Instrumental Doom/Sludge Metal theatre. HIghly atmospheric and beautifully melodic which does offer moments of aggressive down-tuned grooves that are quite thrilling to hear.
Third track Doom Denker is a track that could have easily come from their celebrated debut album but with a more captivating Ambient energy with the eerie soundbytes and trippy Psychedelic effects allowing Modder to orchestrate a gloomy story without the need for words or vocals. The mood is quite harsh and volatile which allows the band to play many different levels of Progressive Sludge moments with sludgy down-tuned guitars adding a more Thrash based perspective. The song does offer a lot of “stop-start” moments but it’s one of the standout moments of the track.
The second half of the album is where the “Grind” element comes into focus with classic beats that remind me of Genghis Tron with freaky glitch-out sounds appearing on the stunning fourth track Feral Summer. The movement is very fast-paced and aggressive but there’s also a catchy breakdown sound with Modder once again playing a different style of Instrumental beats aligning themselves with the Progressive and Psychedelic attitude that Modder continues to develop and build upon.
The final two tracks of The Devil Is Digital and These Snakes continues with the sonic exploration with flashes of Psych, Grind and Spaced Out Doom all overflowing into each other but with a more nomadic and doomed out perspective. The tone is quite cold at times but the muscular instrumental jams allow everyone in Modder the perfect opportunity to showcase what great musicians they are. Perhaps the most outlandish and exciting parts of the album are heard right here.
The Great Liberation Through Hearing is an outstanding record on all fronts and levels with sublime production values allowing Modder to become one of the most exciting voices within the Instrumental Doom/Sludge Metal scene.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Consouling Sounds for the promo.
The Great Liberation Through Hearing will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Consouling Sounds and Lay Bare Recordings from November 17th 2023.
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