Gutvoid: Durance Of Lightless Horizons

The song titles alone on this six track but sprawling debut full length from Canada’s Gutvoid leave no question that this four-piece are an ambitious bunch. Pulling from the well of death and doom to create their own brand of juggernauting, but progressive grinding, there are few concessions made as the ground is lain for an aural, but considered onslaught. All four members of the band are credited with writing the music here, with singer and guitarist Brendan Dean taking on the role of lyricist. Vocally he’s a guttural bellower who understands that if he’s going to write about never ending pain, sacrifices and other dark deeds, then the key is to allow us all to be able to understand them. That he does so without compromising on the threat and belief in his voice is impressive indeed.

Teaming up with Daniel Bonofiglio to form the twin guitar assault, the pair take on a similar approach to their fret fury as Dean does with the vocals, the clarity and deftness in approach as vital as the unburdened anguish they convey. “In Caverns It Lurks� is possibly the best exponent of this particular skill, but it’s not until the band, completed by the precise drumming of DW Lee and bulging bass work of Justin Boehm, pull out the stops on the full force “Skeletal Glyph� and much more progressive, 14 minute plus “Wandering Dungeon� that we really glimpse what this outfit might become. The latter track especially feels like a labour of dirging, blood dripping love and it’s that care, attention and harshness which really pays dividends on what is, for me, the undoubted album highlight.

With a few shorter releases behind them prior to this point, the test for Gutvoid was always going to be whether they could translate that promise into something more substantial. I’d suggest that with Durance Of Lightless Horizons they’ve done just that. However, it’s what might follow that truly marks this band out as one to watch. The is impressive stuff, but the promise shown will hopefully push those scales ever higher.

Track Listing
1. Coils Of Gas-wHen Filament
2. In Caverns It Lurks
3. Delivered To The Altar Lich
4. The One Who Dwells Beyond Time
5. Skeletal Glyph
6. Wandering Dungeon

Added: May 27th 2023
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Gutvoid @ bandcamp
Hits: 368
Language: english

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