Terra Tenebrosa (roughly translated to dark Earth) was formed in 2009 from the dissolution of post-hardcore band Breach. These boys have found themselves far from their native genre since then. Now I have seen post-hardcore bands go blackened before, but never quite like this. The corpse has been stripped and flayed down to the bone, leaving not a trace of its former visage. And like in so many horror films, what is resurrected tends to be something far more insidious. With contributions from Jonas A Holmberg (This Gift is a Curse), Alex Stjernfeldt (The Moth Gatherer), MkM (Antaeus, Aosoth) and Vindsval (Blut Aus Nord), The Reverses is another Debemur Morti production that you will not want to miss.
The album begins on an especially dissonant note with "Makoria," which is less a song than droning noise. This track greatly reminds me of the original Doom soundtrack with its whispering and hellish aesthetic. I suspect the placement is largely a tactic to scare off non-believers, as the rest of the album is a bit more conventional (though no less vile). "Ghost at the End of the Rope" shows the band as capable in maintaining that same appreciation for discord while creating a composition that can be more easily followed via effects-laden black metal leads.
Much like other recent albums from the label like the Blut Aus Nord / Aevangelist split or Throane, there is an emphasis on malevolent atmosphere without losing site of memorable songwriting. Elements of industrial and electronic seep into the music like a toxic sap. It's harsh, but not impenetrable. In fact unlike a lot of releases in this direction, I can pull out a few tracks that could be callled singles. "The End is Mine to Ride" features a catchy bassline, infectious beat, and some notable guitar hooks in addition to the contemptible hiss of the vocals. "Where Shadows Have Teeth" is another great choice.
But tracks like "Marmorisation," "Exuvia," and especially the closing "Fire Dances" are much more expansive. Terra Tenebrosa are very good at developing a progression towards sounds that are ominous and lumbering bringers of doom. Those last 17 minutes are a strangely cohesive combination of EDM rave, Dimmu Borgir, and Mindless Faith. Yes, Debemur Morti seems poised to have their strongest roster yet in 2016, and The Reverses has earned a seat near the head of the table. I can't wait to see what's next.