Review Summary: convalescent plasma
As I wrap my head around the lunging throb of Minnesota-based death heads Nothingness I’ve already realised two things:
That’s some filthy artwork
I really enjoy this type of death metal that rushes to the door like this
Cool right? Because
Supraliminal is spectacular. A collection of burly riffs and a sensationally throbbing production that swells with each ebb and flow. There’s a sickening lurch to the groove that “Curse of Creation” employs past a winding introduction and yet the track’s trajectory quickly shifts—tumultuous doom feeds itself through the grind of filthy death metal riffs. “Curse of Creation” seamlessly transforms itself from fire, into smoke before returning to a foundation of stereotypical death metal and the ear candy of a frenetic, frenzied outro guitar solo. On the other hand, “Horrendous Incantation” takes a likeness to Cannibal Corpse, abating the tempo to allow hammer riffs to compliment some of the fiercest death metal growls of the year. Technically, the track is simply sound—Nothingness focusing on impact rather than flamboyant, overly technical meshing together of guitar noises. What a lovely bunch.
As we make our way through
Supraliminal’s forty-four-minute runtime it’s clear that Nothingness are slick musicians hiding their slick talents under walls of primitive portrait hangings.
Supraliminal is as same-y as it is vast. A transformative palette of dripping caveman drenched mannerisms and molten amalgamations of doom. Deeper cuts like “Inviolate Viscera” takes this established formula and bleeds dissonance against the groove. In being one of the record’s shorter tracks this Minnesota act stewed a few knee-jerk ideas together, unlikely experimentation juxtaposed with the progression of death metal staples. Nothingness finds the time to branch out, reevaluate and trudge into the seven minute, entirely impressive “Beacon of Loss”. A more melodic approach combines a loose Mastodon aesthetic with a distorted doom march. The track’s core sustains the death metal soundscape that came before it, but here Nothingness really takes the formula and twists it; incorporating just enough innovation to lift them to loftier heights. An impressive feat considering their climes are brought together by a combination of down-tuned riffs, deep growls and an aesthetic not normally credited for being expansive, experimental or even transcendental. Nothingness still manages to try
something(ness?) adding variety, shape and interest to their rigorous death motifs.
The one-two punch that hits unironically like a hammer a la “TheAnvil” and the somewhat Morbid Angel inspired chop riff fest of “Decimation Mechanism” round off
Supraliminal with a bang. The moody atmospheric build of the latter is particularly founding—not because the track itself needs such a lead in, but because it identifies that Nothingness isn’t done experimenting with their brand of experimental caveman meets cookie-cutter death metal.
Supraliminal oozes death metal goodness, the year’s first quarter has been blessed with a full complement of filthy (read: pretty) artwork, matching music and enough growls to appeal to baser Cannibal Corpse fans everywhere.
