Review Summary: ION: Inhuman Oppressive Noise
Portal, an Australian metal band of many colors and genres working together as one massive force, has been making waves in the underground of extreme metal for quite some time now. With 2003’s
Seepia, the band has been uncompromising from the start, with its incredibly oppressive volume and distortion; up until now.
Portal has now cut the murk and marrow of their previous sound, one that obscured much of the instrumentation they had to offer. Not that this was necessarily a bad thing; it still got the job done. However, don’t expect this album over here to be a walk in the park. Although its production is much clearer, it’s still as unwelcoming as the paragons of lightning that dress the cover art like an electrifying nightmarish storm. So be prepared for a sonic beatdown lasting about 40 minutes.
Something I find to be admirable about Portal is the care that goes into the textures and sonic landscapes they craft from the ground up. This album is no different from their previous LPs, in that case. The opening track, "Nth", is a good example of that. It’s almost as if it serves as a warning for those who are unfamiliar with a sound from a band such as Portal. I adore the ominous horns that parade throughout the track, which provides deja vu from that of a Frankenstein movie. It’s an opener that I won’t be forgetting for a very long time.
The following track, "ESP ION AGE", is essentially a jumpscare, given the stark contrast from the previous track to the next. The frantic guitars and drums we all know and love from Portal are still there, but clearer than ever. It’s a nice change of pace from Portal’s previous efforts, one I feel that has been needed.
To those who are new to Portal, the vocals may be one of the most unique qualities that the band has to offer. The vocals conjure this image of The Curator’s throat acting as a vessel for 50 mph winds to pass through into the desolate open fields of sonic mayhem, creating an airy quality; one that sounds like the souls of the damned crying out for retribution. It’s quite the frightening treat, delectable enough to separate it from their contemporaries.
Another track that stuck out like a sore thumb is the song "Spores". How Portal can pack such inhuman ferocity and malice into a two minute and thirty-second cut remains to be a mystery. The more I listen to it, the more I find to love. It’s truly a standout moment here because of how clear the instrumentation usually is. Easily their most caustic song yet.
The final track, "Olde Guarde", is one of the most fitting finishes I’ve heard in this niche genre; solid finishes being something that technical death metal often lacks. Straight to the point from the beginning, this track reeks of all that Portal has achieved up to this moment. In certain passages in the beginning of "Old Guarde", the bass becomes much more audible and punchy. Though I wish they did this for longer, this is what makes the bass stand out so much when sparingly used.
As the sonic mayhem comes to a screeching halt close to the five minute mark, it’s replaced by a less urgent, yet far more sinister tone. The first phase of this involves simple yet effective strokes on the guitars which lack any melody, creating an ever-present sense of dread. Moving onto the next phase, it morphs into this cacophony of the dead wallowing in their eternal prisons, crying out to be released, which is accompanied by a haunting static resonance emitting from what seems to be a record player. During these moments, what sounds like an orchestra begins to creep into the mix, which closes off the album quite nicely. While Portal is notorious for their ambiance and sonic textures that they weave into the mix, I feel that it’s bigger, badder, and more disgustingly compelling than ever before on this project here.
From the opening track to the last, this is a thoroughly gratifying experience for not only Portal, but technical death metal as a whole. Yet again, Portal has come through with one of the best technical death metal releases of the decade. It’s no secret that Portal is entirely unlike their contemporaries, and that’s great. But what makes Portal special is the fact that they’re able to create something not only unique, but visionary; and that’s a beautiful thing.
