Unearthly Trance ‘Electrocution’ CD/LP 2008

Unearthly Trance 'Electrocution' CD/LP 2008This is the fourth album from New York’s bleak occultists and its apparent from the off that the band have grown as songwriters and their sound has expanded with it. Last album ‘The Trident’ was their most diverse exploration of the hostile cold territory between Doom, Black metal and noise. Now with ‘Electrocution’ the band are pushing this ten-fold out, and as a result reach out into uncharted waters.

It see’s UT bringing in a strong early-Neurosis thread which is opening up the song structures and creating patterned tempo’s which climb and fall to staggering effect. One of the most impressive developments is the range of Ryan Lipynsky’s voice, he is now singing with more confidence, which far from watering the songs down is adding a new level of bleak atmosphere. This is exceptionally displayed on ‘Diseased’ with its strong choral line and punishing drum work.

If there is a criticism of this record it would have to be the band’s penchant for dipping into that ‘Relapse sound’, the Mastodon/Baroness riff pool when it is utterly unnecessary. This however doesn’t stop ‘Electrocution’ being one of the most accomplished, savage metal albums we will see this year. Its been a regular in my CD drive for a couple of months now and still it maintains my interest such is its strength of dark occult alchemy.

Label: Relapse Records
Website: www.unearthlytrance.com

Scribed by: Andrew Sloan