There is something I still cannot put my finger on; how well sludge and post-metal do together. A solid example in 2022 is from Milwaukee’s own, Northless, as they storm back with A Path Beyond Grief (Translation Loss). This album really has something for everyone that previously enjoyed material from the group. There are the interesting song structures of post-metal, influences and passages of old school death metal, and bluesy guitar riffs you would expect from a sludge band. Coming in at just over the thirty-minute mark makes for an enjoyable experience without turning into a chore to finish.
‘Carried’ hits right in the middle of A Path Beyond Grief and I feel is where the tone really picks up. In the previous tracks, the tempo and overall feel of each song are very similar so they almost felt like the blended together. This track, however, really leaves that tone behind and picks up the tempo and is the kick in the pants this album was waiting for. ‘Of Shadow and Sanguine’ continues this trend as it starts off with blast beats and an eerie guitar riff that is seen a few times across the track. Then leading up into the third minute of the song is a slamming death metal passage that is sure to get a pit going once Northless gets out on the road again to showcase these new tracks.
‘What Must Be Done’ is the second to last track on the record and hits the levels of despair and defeatism as the tempo comes back down but the intensity does not sleep on this one. After the first minute or so, there is a crescendo that climaxes into a sludge breakdown, a must-have trait for any band that finds themselves traveling into the post-metal subgenre.
I have had the privilege of reviewing a few previous splits, and I have enjoyed watching the Wisconsin natives through this journey up to this point with A Path Beyond Grief. I will say that I do have a hope that further material will utilize the crescendo/climax structure a bit more often. Having said that, this album will be another chapter in an already impressive story that is the discography and career of Northless.
Buy the album here: https://northlesstl.bandcamp.com/album/a-path-beyond-grief
7 / 10
TIM LEDIN