Alluvial - The Deep Longing For Annihilation
Alluvial - The Deep Longing For Annihilation
A master-class in what can be done with metal instrumentals. Keith Morrow and Wes Hauch have crafted the most impressive work of pure musicianship that I've heard in some time. Unlike nearly everyone making today's instrumental music, Alluvial understands that when you lose the natural point of interest of the human voice, it's mandatory that you increase the diversity in the composition. To that end they've crafted something twisty and intense, dynamic in both melody and style - shifting violently between blazingly technical progressive metal to atmospheric doom or even sometimes folk metal.
It's all in service of the over-arching mood of the record, the one they so perfectly describe in the title. It's one of bitterness and depression. But it's not depressing itself, instead it's invigorating and intriguing. Like I said in the Dumal review, music that deals with negative emotion should be less about wallowing in it and more about finding beauty in dark places.
Well this album is certainly dark, and it's certainly beautiful. In fact, it's the best metal release I've heard so far this year.
Stream in full below via YouTube.
Highlights: Lila • In Penitence • Gabrielle
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