Review Summary: Awe-inspiring.
It truly pains me to pinpoint a band that better exemplifies the word “unique” as Gospel. As extraordinary and different
The Moon Is A Dead World is, it certainly makes me think “unique” gets tacked on to bands a little too often. The passion so evident on Gospel’s only full-length isn’t suppressed simply to tenacious screaming, as is par for the course. Rather,
The Moon Is A Dead World floors listeners with a distinct flavor of screamo all their own- equal parts spellbinding and awe-inspiring. Be it heavy, escalating build-ups or the cathartic releases of riff upon riff at the top, Gospel transcends musical barriers, made evident by the fact that it’s so well-loved both inside and outside the genre.
Like a hungry and probably purple giant on a rampage, Gospel is relentless and often somewhat terrifying, even. From tenacious riffing and exasperating drumming on “Golden Dawn,” to the anthemic progressive behemoth “What Means of Witchery,”
The Moon Is A Dead World is an aggressive monster of an album. In effect, that larger-then-life sentiment is so utterly pointed that Gospel renders an almost otherworldly experience throughout
The Moon Is A Dead World. Complemented fittingly by lyrics of the apocalypse, of fallen empires, the album is consistent as hell, with dizzying dynamics of depressive desolation. Comparisons to more worldly entities just don’t cut it when describing
The Moon Is A Dead World. No... Gospel calls for a juxtaposition against giants and monsters, against the apocalypse, the supernatural and the staggering.
By branching out upon screamo’s late 90’s roots and creating something utterly groundbreaking,
The Moon Is A Dead World truly defines screamo in the last decade, as this seemed to be the most prominent trend. Grounded in the caustic aesthetic of hardcore and coupled with the progressive tendencies of yes, Yes, Gospel truly carve a path all to themselves. By combining aspects that sound ludicrous on paper, it’s no wonder the band wasn’t pursued by imitators attempting to follow their trail. Perhaps that’s part of the beauty- the fact that no band has come close to the behemoth. The sheer grandiosity and tenacity of their sound is intimidating, setting apart Gospel from even their most lofty contemporaries. It’s certainly no coincidence that the band’s next release is accompanied by tidal waves of excitement; in fact, I can’t think of a more deserving recipient.
