Internal Suffering: Cyclonic Void of Power

H. P. Lovecraft's "At the Mountains of Madness" has long mesmerized readers with its eerie account of explorations in the Antarctic. Particularly influential, for better and for worse, is the tale's depiction of ancient astronauts and speculations concerning extraterrestrial origins of human life. In popular culture, the story has influenced several films, including John Carptenter's masterpiece The Thing, Ridley Scott's flawed but fascinating Prometheus, and the long promised but unmade adaptation by Guillermo Del Toro. The story also lurks behinds the hundreds of conspiracy theorists who seek to find evidence of alien gods on the earth. Simply put, "At the Mountains of Madness" is a fun tale, one that still packs a punch in contemporary culture.

This album draws on Lovecraft's story by using it as the foundation of a larger musical concept, one that takes readers from the mountains of madness into a series of dark reflections on how human beings fit in to the larger cosmic scheme. Things begin with a selection from the tale, read dramatically while foul winds blow in the background. From there, the band throttles listeners with its powerful blend of power, aggression, and technical proficiency. Listeners will be impressed with Internal Suffering's consistent ability to write complex, relentless, and fascinating tracks.

Even though I enjoyed listening to the music on this album, I couldn't help but feel like the band should have played up the Lovecraftian components even more through the music. The lyrics are terrific, but the music tends to return to only a few core elements. Don't get me wrong, these guys play with the best of them, but they missed an opportunity here to let the album's concept take things in different directions from time to time. I won't presume to know the intention behind the Lovecraftian concept, but it seems like it could have been developed musically and lyrically in other ways. Lovecraft's tales are so full of drama and depth that the music could have followed those patterns a little more. Despite these quibbles, I find the album generally excellent. I especially enjoyed the middle of the album, beginning with "Dimension of the Wicked" and working toward the title track. Fans of brutal and extreme death metal will definitely enjoy this album.

Track Listing:
1. Ride the Mountains of Madness
2. Unleash the Antarctic Colossus
3. Omnipotent Triumvirate
4. Vanished From Cosmos
5. Monumental Crusade
6. Dimension of the Wicked
7. Upon Mystical Gateways
8. Cyclonic Void of Power
9. Abominable Highlands
10. Protectors of the Slumber Empire
11. Orbitas Ancestrales De Poder

Added: July 12th 2016
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Facebook Page
Hits: 1919
Language: english

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