Review: State Of Non Return ‘White Ink’

Italian doom sludge band State of Non Return gives a powerful opening statement with their debut White Ink that is out now through Trepanation Recordings. The minimalist cover invoking a dark sea, hints at the album’s focus: four lengthy tracks exploring the genre’s depths, with the shortest standing at just under nine minutes.

Opener Catharsis dives in with psychedelic guitars before lurching into a slow, doomy groove. The sound of the album is very clean, and the drums in particular feel very raw and natura, the vocals on the other hand are often heavily processed. While the song’s heavier moments deliver a massive roar, there’s a sense that the track would benefit from a more live feel.

Vertigo continues the slow assault with powerful guitars and sparse drumming. The initially buried vocals eventually erupt into screams, adding a punk rock edge and the guitar interplay eventually takes centre stage, pushing the song into exploratory territory.

White Ink, the title track, opens with tinkling bells cutting through a dense atmosphere, before settling into another slow groove. The bass and drums lock-in, and the overall feel is meditative. The guitar distortion remains impressive and maintains the introspective feel.

The bass throbs with fuzz, the guitars create a thick atmosphere, and the vocals rise above the din…

The closer, Pendulum, is a fifteen-minute epic. The heavily processed drums and interview samples pave the way for the band’s arrival as this track showcases a truly powerful soundscape. The bass throbs with fuzz, the guitars create a thick atmosphere, and the vocals rise above the din. Later in the song, the band unleashes a devastating funeral punk vibe, proving their potential for sonic mastery.

State Of Non Return clearly wear their love for classic Neurosis releases right on their sleeve on this album, and, of course, we all miss them terribly, but recapturing the magic of previous decades is not at all an easy thing to do in 2024. The album’s greatest strength lies in its heavier moments, showcased in Pendulum‘s second half. State Of Non Return demonstrates undeniable talent, and their next releases promise to be even more compelling.

Label: Trepanation Recordings
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram

Scribed by: Goro Riffs