Hell is the project of Oregon based musician M.S.W., and his latest release of expansive sounds is titled III. Containing just two long tracks totaling 37 minutes, III manages to cover a wide range of sounds, from bleak post rock, drone, atmospheric folk, to furious black metal. Opening cut "Mourn" initially lulls you into a false sense of tranquil security before screaming, pulverizing black metal comes crashing into the mix, complete with raging vocal screams, jagged guitar riffs, and pounding rhythms. As frightening as it gets, the tone once again changes and M.S.W. dips into crushing apocalyptic sludge for a few minutes before the droning post rock returns to bring the song to its conclusion. The near 21-minute "Decedere" follows a similar pattern, with lilting guitar patterns eventually giving way to monstrous riffs bordering on feedback and haunting vocal chants. A battle between black metal shrieks and massive waves of sludge ridden riffs commences for a few minutes, occasionally giving way to folky interludes as well as some intense blasting. It's an intriguing ride, and while not all of it works, there's enough to recommend here for those who like avant-garde black metal. Personally, I'd rather see Hell concentrate more on the black metal and leave some of the avant-garde & post rock stuff aside, but for those that appreciate 'yin vs. yang' stylistic changes, there will be a lot to enjoy here.
Track Listing
1) Mourn
2) Decedere
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