Review Summary: A labyrinth leading from dusk to death.
A proponent of pain and torture in of itself,
Loss is an album that paints upon rotted parchment its dismal, bleak image of life. It reveals a canvas that is dark and laden with remorse, beckoning those who stare long enough to envelop themselves in the dulled brackish water of life. It is quite clear that as soon as the first cries of despair are unleashed off of “Ignite-Ashes”that this record is not looking for joy, and that it does not want brief flashes of happiness to gleam through. It instead opts to bombard you with unsettling howls, murky tremolo-picked riffs and monotonous, rigid blast beats. The second track, “Despite-Pity” continues this brooding atmosphere, albeit more so cavernous and disquieting than it is tortured.
It is interesting that this album has such an explosive start, because even by the last 5 minutes of the 15 minute track “Ignite-Ashes” the music has toned itself down to the point of near-slumber, sluggishly moving along with disgusting gargles, silenced rasps and melancholic guitar work. Really, this is present throughout the whole album. By the time you have reached the final track there is no energy, no catharsis to be found. “Sources-Nihil” is dragging itself by its teeth, limping through the fields of flame and death. Towards the end however, if only briefly, it becomes cathartic once more. It drills itself into the listeners skull with those inhuman shrieks and pummeling blast beats once more, until it all crashes upon itself and gives way to nothing but lonesome piano chords and a sharp, metallic ringing. This is why the way this album progresses is truly the most bleak aspect about it. It is representative of a life born into sorrow and pain, fighting but not enduring, until eventually the fires of loss consume it.
