The Pitch: Listen to Copenhagen sludgecore band LLNN's sound mature into a truly atmospheric journey with Deads via Pelagic Records; an album that has even caught the attention of award-winning movie soundtrack composer Peter Albrechtsen (Dunkirk, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo). FFO: Wovoka, Hexis, Inter Arma
What I Like: I've been a fan of LLNN since they dropped the shattering debut Loss in 2016. Their fusion of sludge and hardcore is among the most raw I have come across, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a band that delivers such levels of unbridled emotion. The thick low end of the bass and guitars paired with Christian's unfaltering hardcore screams always makes for an uncompromisingly ferocious display. Simply listening to the mine field that is "Parallels" is enough to leave the average person curled up on the floor. My only real concern was how their simple approach would make for consistently engaging releases. Enter Deads, which is big step forward in LLNN's sound.
This next chapter continues the band's penchant for apocalyptic heaviness while greatly expanding their sound palette with increased post-metal influences. This is largely thanks to synth master, Ketil Sejersen, who creates remarkable atmosphere extending into infinite oblivion. Ketil is influenced by the likes of Brad Fiedel, Vangalis, John Carpenter, and Stanley Kubrick, as well as sci-fi/horror games like Silent Hill, Dead Space, Halo, and Limbo. Elaborates drummer Rasmus G Sejersen, “Some of the synth sounds on Deads consist of recordings from everyday sounds transformed into eerie soundscapes, for instance the sounds of boiling water. We wanted the soundscapes to be a persistent and dynamic underlay of sounds that influence the music's core and soul throughout the entire album, together with all the riffs, rhythms, and vocals.” Mission accomplished.
Critiques: With maturation and experimentation often comes growing pains, and I feel that this is also true of Deads. While the atmosphere and intrigue have greatly and successfully expanded, I feel that the flow and consistency of the album isn't quite there yet. This makes me less dissapointed than excited for what the next album might hold.
The Verdict: Deads is what happens when a band refuses to stagnate while remaining true to the core elements that made them great to begin with. LLNN had already proven themselves as a great sludgecore band with Loss, so instead of playing it safe they challenged the boundaries of their sound...quite successfully I might add. I am thrilled to see what further honing of their craft could do for a third album.
Flight's Fav's: Despots, Parallels, Armada
-Review by FlightOfIcarus
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