Atavist - III: Absolution

 

So, Atavist disappeared for a decade. Well, slightly more. It's been thirteen years since their last album.

But, they're back, and they've brought with then an hour of bleak, morose, uncompromising funeral doom.

This is a bit different from a lot of doom metal, in that there is no real attempt to be threatening or aggressive at all. 

Nor is there any attempt at redemption or catharsis, like in blackgaze or post-bm. Swelling guitars leading to a 'drop' into happier phrasing never happens.

This is unrelentingly bleak from end to end. Quoting Naughton seems relevant. He said: “There is no joy here, only relief at the end of an arduous voyage.”

Truth.