At the time of writing a look out of the window reveals overcast and grey skies, whilst as quick a glance at the news is equally as bleak and miserable. It is hard to pay attention to the discourse in the world right now and not feel some combination of anger and hopelessness.
Perhaps then now really is the perfect time for the return of Germany’s Downfall Of Gaia since 2019’s Ethic Of Radical Finitude. Four years on and Silhouettes Of Disgust (Metal Blade) only sees the band’s palette of ferocity and melancholy, understandable, heightened.
‘Existence In Awe’ commences proceedings and firmly showcases their brooding nature, largely consisting of Black Metal style riffing and frenetic pacing with a intermitting drop of pace and gloomy sense of atmosphere. Similarly ‘The Whir Of Flies’ begins in a similar vein before becoming ultimately more expansive around the halfway point, giving a reprieve from the harshness to a contemplative tone. Anton Lisovoj
The combined vocals of Anton Lisovoj and Dominik Goncalves dos Reis are powerful throughout sounding near tortured and pained as a complement to the shifts in pace and dynamics throughout which always maintain a foreboding atmosphere.
With some familiarity from previous releases, there are also clear signs of the band pushing their sound forward if at least with subtlety. The ethereal vocals and ambience which opens ‘Eyes To Burning Skies’ is a particularly moving passage that reveals a sense of vulnerability that heightens the fierceness that follows it. The opening bars of ‘Final Vows’ also prove disorientating on first listen with several blasts of notes intersecting with total silence in a way that catches you off guard.
It’s a song that feels like a natural closing track so the following ‘Unredeemable’ does suffer (at least initially) with following this, however the actual closing track of ‘Optograms of Disgust’ dissipates this feeling with an Alcest-like quality of light permeating through the bleakness like sunshine peering through parting clouds.
Four years on from their previous album which was certainly their high point at the time with its excellent blend of Black Metal and post-Metal, it is very welcoming to see that Downfall Of Gaia’s long-awaited return has seen the band grow further as a unit.
Silhouettes Of Disgust is a characteristically despondent effort that perfectly sums up the world state right now. Largely harrowing, but with enough moments of hope breaking through.
Buy the album here:
8 / 10
CHRIS TIPPELL