Review Summary: Antediluvian return to immerse us in another blackened disarray that satisfies the primal lust for all things evil
Antediluvian’s dense, grimy, festering style of death metal can be compared to drowning. More specifically, like drowning in a tar pit – you unwittingly stumble into the thick muck, beginning to panic as you attempt to reach for any nearby object to pull yourself out, else you face an agonising doom. As you attempt to make your way to the edge of the blackened reservoir you descend deeper and deeper with every step, before stumbling and slowly sinking as the sludge envelops your being and ultimately consumes you.
Antediluvian create a churning maelstrom of suffocating fog in the vein of Portal and Mitochondrion, and more than hold a candle to their contemporaries. Direct, attention-grabbing riffs are nowhere to be found, instead substituted by a blackened death barrage of fluctuating tremolo strumming and wailing pinch harmonics. There is virtually no build-up in the opening track bar a brief sample of what sounds like a demonic conjuration. You’re then caught totally off guard by a filthy, engulfing riff and some otherworldly guttural mumblings, courtesy of a man whose alias I have no idea how to pronounce. The music from this point on is utterly relentless, allowing small moments to breathe, but only with the malevolent intention of showing you what you’re missing and amplifying the torture. The music is cluttered and characteristically brutal, but not in cliché sense that is perpetuated by many bands today. Even down to the band’s name, Antediluvian demonstrate a distinct artistic vision, with an attention to detail to match. Taking their moniker from the period in biblical scripture preceding the destruction of mankind by virtue of The Deluge – Antediluvian’s music is appropriately caustic and destructive.
The music isn’t meant to entertain but to immerse and disturb, deliberately over-saturating the listener and testing their commitment. Despite the album’s brevity (clocking in at barely 33 minutes), you will feel relieved once it’s all over, only left with an agonising case of bloodlust. The maddening tumult of dexterous drumming, sordid riffs and deranged vocals that defy comprehension is addictive, which is impressive considering how initially uninviting it is. The album largely forgoes the more memorable doomy sections of their debut and is instead dominated by abundant tempo shifts and rhythmic complexity. This coupled with the intentionally “poor” production means the album is very unwelcoming to all but the most devoted. The instruments are fashioned with
just enough clarity to be deciphered after many, many listens but absolutely nothing could be described as “immediate”. The album is thus very gratifying once it’s fleshed out nonetheless will no doubt be dismissed at a whim by certain listeners as “just noise”. But Antediluvian are not here to please everyone, or anyone for that matter, and this is what makes their latest album such a fascinating, if occasionally frustrating listen.
With their latest release, Antediluvian have cemented their place as among the forerunners in the new school of ultra-murky blackened death acts. Through the intelligent use of sub-par sound engineering, these guys have succeeded in creating a hellish aesthetic whilst weaving an impressive level of intricacy into their chaotic compositions. A challenging and rewarding experience, this album is recommended for anyone a fan of all things gloomy and perverse.
