The Pitch: Atmospheric black metal from Olympia, WA's With The End In Mind, "Born of grief and uncertainty, born of life-changing experiences in the wilds of Northern California and the Olympic Mountains, born of ever escalating crises and ever escalating resistance, Unraveling; Arising is a labor of truest love, a call of urgency, a reverent homage to Life in all its forms." FFO: Wolves In The Throne Room, Altar Of Plagues, Panopticon
What I Like: Unraveling; Unrising has a dreamlike feel to it that I'm not sure I've heard yet in 2018. While there have been plenty of drifting post-metal/black outings this year, With The End In Mind have an expansive, freeform aesthetic that stands out. It feels less like a structured performance and more like stepping inside of a musician's head. Concepts float by like driftwood on a stream. And while the vocals are often quite harsh, the overall feeling is almost always that of peace and meditation. The closest comparison I can make is So Hideous; just without the classical orchestration. The guitar leads are crisp and alive, seeming to strum their way into my very being. But when it's all said and done, this album isn't about the songwriting or instruments...it's about the haunting introspection you feel afterwards.
Critiques: On a personal note, this isn't something I would actively listen to on a regular basis. For me it works better as background or a soundscape for some relaxation practice. Not really a negative so much as a personal preference.
The Verdict: In the end, I think that this snippet from the promo email says it better than I ever could, "Luscious soundscapes build from a whisper, only to be split like straining trees by the thunderous black metal storm. The maelstrom is tempered bythe occasional hint of dark folk and classic psychedelia, like echoes of a forgotten time and place. Fury and turmoil seem all-encompassing, yet giveway to deeper understandings of Myth and the eternal cycles of our world."
Flight's Fav's: Sings the Sky, From The True Source, Wheeling, Endlessly Wheeling
- Review by FlightOfIcarus
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