Embedded Files
SALLOW MOTH– “Hydrophilous Brood”
SALLOW MOTH– “Hydrophilous Brood”
by Thor
SALLOW MOTH is a death metal duo from Dallas, TX playing some of the most nasty, progressive, and HEAVY extreme metal I’ve heard in a while.
So, let me dispense with my nit to pick and then move on…
This is the opening paragraph of the press release for the album:
“”Hydrophilous Brood” takes place in Pamugara, a dimensional nest immersed in a lush world where organisms are rematerialized into new hybrid species after passing through a powerful portal, a highly unpredictable artifact known as the ‘Mossbane Lantern’. Each song has a thematic connection to various artifacts on the previous album (Mossbane Lantern), extrapolating the characteristics and aftereffects of those artifacts within this temperamental environment of a planet.”
Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh…
Holy shit, guys. I can’t begin to tell you how much this made me NOT want to listen to this album. However, I’m a man of my word and I’d already agreed to review it for our esteemed Wormwood Chronicles EiC (and demented sawbones) Dr. Abner Mality. Fortunately, my good character paid off because musically this album absolutely crushes!
Garry Brents (guitars, bass, lead vocals, keys) and Allen Gingerich (drums and some guitar) made a death metal album right now—this year— that is somehow both heavy AND interesting! One that I’d listen to again, even. And they did it by executing a tricky amalgamation of extreme metal tropes that shouldn’t always work together, but here they somehow adhere to an obvious throughline, one that is, again, HEAVY.
The production is both unique and top-notch. The songs are weighty and raw, even cavernous at times, despite also being extremely technical. That dichotomy lends itself to an organic, aggressive, horrific sound that I haven’t quite heard before. The vocal production and performances in particular are creatively gross and almost disturbing at times, perfectly contextualizing the chaotic music beneath.
There are elements and approaches on SALLOW MOTH’s “Hydrophilous Brood” that I’ve never heard before on a death metal record, but they’re never so alien that it’s to the detriment of coherent, interesting songs. That alone is a feat worth procuring this album for.
The pretentious concept aside, if you enjoy extreme metal, “Hydrophilous Brood” is a sure thing. It’s outstanding progressive death metal with a guttural/brutal bent.
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