Should you haven’t heard of the legendary Austere, you most likely haven’t been being attentive to the great and infrequently weird world of depressive black steel and its family. Musicians Mitchell Keepin, or “Desolate,” and Tim Yatras, or “Sorrow,” the artists behind Austere, first joined forces in 2005. This Australian duo launched two albums — Withering Illusions and Desolation (2007) and To Lay like Previous Ashes (2009) — in addition to two splits earlier than disbanding in 2010. But, throughout Austere’s lengthy interval of hibernation, their popularity continued to develop like a illness. In 2021, Desolate and Sorrow reunited. Lastly, Austere’s third full-length album, Corrosion of Hearts is upon us. To followers of Austere, this second, which was first introduced in late January, appears too good to be true. In actual fact, it has most likely been one of many greatest BM surprises of 2023 thus far.
Corrosion of Hearts incorporates 4 compositions, three of that are effectively over ten minutes. The primary observe, “Sullen,” hooks you virtually instantly with its fearsome majesty. This album, which reaches towards the epic, drenches you in melancholy and slowly drowns you within the swamp of hopelessness and utter exhaustion. Suffocatingly bleak, the atmosphere-packed Corrosion of Hearts paints eerie visions in grays streaked with hallucinatory ribbons of colour. The music surrounds you with huge, swirling landscapes and induces a little bit of vertigo. Corrosion of Hearts efficiently transports you want a needle within the arm to a realm past sanity. It’s simple to get caught within the addictive melodies, which construct up over you want a cloud and hang-out you all through your day.
Regardless of the plain inspiration taken from Nordic black steel, Corrosion of Hearts has a sure je ne sais quoi that units it aside. We hear varied influences, together with blackgaze. The post-BM Corrosion of Hearts is neither conventional nor what you’d name experimental. It delivers one thing that comes throughout as each fashionable and nostalgic. This keyboard-sprinkled providing makes for a very simple hear with sure points which can be lustrous and polished. Magnificence and the abject are well-balanced general. But, the album might nonetheless use extra spine. On a associated observe, the combination and manufacturing really feel a bit off. In the meantime, we hear a wide range of completely different vocal approaches — clear vocals, scratchy harsh vocals, wails, and so forth. The distinction works properly, although adjustments can really feel a bit inorganic. The vocal performances usually are not all the time as efficient and highly effective as they could possibly be, however most listeners will probably be extremely impressed. In the long run, they claw their means underneath your pores and skin.
Those that love Austere are likely to actually love the band. Corrosion of Hearts is sure to talk strongly to many steel aficionados and really feel fairly significant. Nevertheless, others may imagine that it could possibly be extra emotionally partaking. Corrosion of Hearts isn’t as excessive as one may anticipate and will even be perceived as somewhat secure throughout the context of the style. Sadly for followers of extra outrageous bands, it is not going to make you wish to bounce to any everlasting choices in a literal sense. Nonetheless, this unhappy little truth clearly makes it extra bearable and accessible. Thus, if you’re new to the extra depressive aspect of black steel, Corrosion of Hearts ought to show an particularly fulfilling providing. In the long run, the quantity of distress that Corrosion of Hearts invitations you to share is greater than beneficiant.
In brief, the otherworldly Corrosion of Hearts is a completely stable report — an important addition to your steel playlist. That is undoubtedly an album that you must take a look at. It would even turn out to be one among your new favorites.
