Review Summary: Yellow Eyes switch genres....and subsequently release one of their best albums.
Yellow Eyes is a well known band in the USBM scene. These New Yorkers have been pushing out quality, lo-fi atmospheric black metal for over a decade now. They've always kept their sound fresh, but have never really expanded on it. That is until their newest album,
Master's Murmur was released.
Lets just say that the Yellow Eyes we all know and love took a vacation because
Master's Murmur all but completely abandons any trace of black metal. This album is an extemely varied combination of industrial, dark ambient, folk, dungeon synth and even classical music. I know that's a massive barrage of genres coming at you, but they the transitions from one sound to the next are absolutely sublime. The black metal parts make an appearance a few times out of the blue and smack you out of whatever blissful dream you were lost in during the softer passages but those instances are few and far between. Chilling ambient sections greet you just as often as the soothing folk acoustics do. Next thing you know, you're being hit with a tidal wave of industrial noise followed by abosolutely beautiful classial piano pieces. Like I mentioned earlier, the seamless transitions from one genre to another deserve serious praise.
Yellow Eyes went all out on this one guys. This level of experimentation with genres normally doesn't work out for black metal bands. Yellow Eyes pull it off with flying colors and then some.
Master's Murmur is one of the best albums you will hear in 2023 hands down. Its comforting and uncomfortable at the same time. It invokes feelings of beauty and also dread. It is a roller coaster ride, and I'd get in line for this ride again and again.
