Various Artists - Asymmetry - [TotalRust Music]

2006-02-01

What better way is there to kick off a new independent label/distribution other than releasing a collection which displays their arsenal of artists?
This collection features 10 bands/projects; most of them can be generally described as Doom metal.

It opens quite gently with the goth/doom band Lux Incerta playing a mellow guitar escorting clean vocals (who sound lightly tormented, and are sung in French).
Soon the crispy distorted guitar and the bleak, narrated, vocal parts enter- reminding me of old November's Doom material.
Next up is "State of Decay" by Whelm which is the longest song in the album (10:54); I can't pin point which Neurosis song they took the main riff from.
The vocals are what separate them from Neurosis, varying form a deep growl to a more hardcorish tone of voice, along with the drumwork which is non-tribal and is fuller of cymbals.

Remembrance is a due which wrote "Beyond the Waters" exclusively for this album, opening with keyboards creating the eerie ambiance, their effected guitars that go forever and somewhat minimal drumwork.
I got the feeling of a protagonist, having lost all, asking (or rather screaming tearfully) "Why me?" – With the piano breaks serving as bursts of memories of the ones he lost.

The sludge sound of Mary Bell in "Armageddon Jam" is as dirty as it gets; this track is a bit weak, with its hollow drum sound and almost sketchy quality - these guys started as drone and I think they should have stayed that.
"Luce" is another specially recorded track, this time it's a solo project called Asofy by Tryfar (although some additional vocals and lyrics are by Vocisconnesse, whoever that is) and it's defined as depressive/suicide black metal, full of bizarre whispers and whining sounding so demented and diseased; the drumwork is ever-so-gentle, it seems like each of the instruments is another voice inside someone's head.

The Knell is an Israeli group, showing the harsh side of Doom, with a re-recorded demo titled "Into Shattered" that opens an appetite for their upcoming album.
The highlight of this album is the self titled track from Mar de Grises (who come all the way from Chile) with it's pounding drums, vocals that sound like they come from someone on his deathbed, guitar riffs from hell (or rather from the way there) and magical keyboards to complete the atmosphere- this song is long (10:29) but the atmosphere it has is what brings misery rather then it's length.
Saturnus represent the oldschool doom with "Murky Waters" while also marking their return after they split up in 2000- the keyboards really fill the sound although they may sound laid back, the guitars are melodic- this song is almost "happy" (as much as doom can be).

I'm not sure if Wreck of the Hesperus meant for "Utter rot" to sound so badly produced, then again- they are that one would call Experimental Sludge/doom, so the demonic chant (vocals in lament's terms) and wall of guitars/bass/drums might be intentional. It's not as good as their 2005 release "Eulogy for the Sewer Dwellers" though.
Abysmal Darkening close this collection with "End it" (suitable title, isn't it?) which has vocals that must have come from a locked up mental patient being tormented with the torment tools being the solid riff and occasional bursts of drum beats.

Within such a variety of bands, having both low and high points, this collection's imperfection is perhaps what makes it so special.

Ofer Vayner