With a name that translates roughly to “The Savage End,” Saevus Finis aim to live up to their moniker with their equally-ominously-titled debut Facilis Descensus Averno (An Easy Descent into Hell). Exercising a particularly gnarly blend of dissonant death and black metal, this plays out in the expectedly extreme metal fashion, amelodious odes of cavernous, claustrophobic cacophony. And it’s pretty cool. In a funny coincidence, it turns out the vocalist of Saevus Finis—Mortvorvm— also provides pipes and guitars for Wells Valley, which received the TYMHM 2023 treatment from yours truly. Once I knew, the likeness was plain, although Saevus Finis takes a more straightforwardly battering, malicious approach compared to Wells Valley’s more darkly atmospheric malevolence. Mortvorvm also heads tech death project Concealment alongside Saevus Finis bassist Sangvis Aestvs.1 So, while this is officially a debut, it’s got more than enough experience behind it to suggest strong potential.
The pedigree of the trio that comprises Saevus Finis is on full and impressive display throughout Facilis Descensus Averno. The influence of technical and avant-garde death metal legends Gorguts, Replicant, and even Portal spring out from every stomach-lurching, grinding guitar descent, every clanging chord progression, and every feedback-filled choking atmospheric gasp. So too, does the touch of unconventional black metal acts like Deathspell Omega and Thantifaxath appear in stalking and anxiety-inducing duets between percussion and strings, sinister notes spilling out in little outbursts amidst inhuman double-bass pedalling (“Those Who Aid and Abet”) or circling with malevolent intent in rare episodes of melody (“Corporeal Malfeasent”). Standing on the shoulders of such giants, it would be easy for the fruit of Saevus Finis’ labour to appear generic or indistinct in a loud and crowded scene. Facilis Descensus Averno hints at a hidden X-factor amidst its solidly crafted disso-death, suggesting that greatness is in reach even while a less considered ear might see only a (good) stopgap for one of the above, more established acts.
The most effective aspect of Facilis… is its mercilessness. The recurring churn of downtuned, muffled guitar and relentless blastbeats, that at points breaks into a “relieving” dissonant refrain (“Scourge of Humanity,” “Unfulfillment,” title track) at others twists itself into a warped, echoing corridor of converging sounds on a Portal-like level (“Overrun by Pests”). The high notes that break free of the rumbling percussion bring only stabs of panic-chord anxiety (“Aeons of Spiritual Starvation,” “Corpse of Hope”), while the little melody that arises lends only to the general sense of dread (“Thou Hast Destroyed Thyself,” “Corporeal Malfeasant”). Relatively snappy song runtimes—only one breaching the five-minute mark—allows them to have this powerful impact, and a satisfying chunkiness (“Unfulfillment,” “Corporeal Malfeasant,” title track), without wearing down the listener’s stamina. And the frequent use of a punchy call-and-response pattern in low then high notes, and battering clusters of percussion (“Thou Hast…,” “Overrun by Pests,” “Those Who Aid and Abet”) propels the music forward in an inexorable march.
Yet, across its runtime, Facilis… subtly transforms. From aggressive, face-mashing brutal technicality to spooky, resonant dissonant black. The change occurs at roughly the halfway mark, from the end of “Overrun by Pests” onwards. Songs beyond this point all slide at some point into a smokey, doomy creep of circling groove and haunting guitar plucks, with throatier, snarling vocals emphasising a profound sense of unease. I am reminded of Schammasch, and Deathspell Omega at these moments, with an extra sprinkle of cavernous death metal. As good as it all is, one can’t escape the feeling that Saevus Finis wanted to make two different kinds of album—one in the style of the first half and one in that of the second—and as a compromise, they appended them. It’s not much of a problem, because the album transitions so naturally, the change has largely occurred before you’ve even noticed it, but it is at least an interesting decision. A less defendable interesting decision would be that of including a 45-second interlude “Execration” right before the final track, whose howling wind and cavernous gurgles don’t really seem to fit in. At least it’s short.
Strange interlude aside, Facilis… does an excellent job of showcasing Saevus Finis’ command of terrifying dissonant black/death metal of varying flavours. By the last few tracks, the mercilessness that manifested at first as violence has become more of an avant-garde horror, and it works. This is a solid work that feels like a good omen for extreme metal in 2024.
Rating: Good
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Transcending Obscurity
Websites: saevusfinis.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/realsaevusfinis
Releases Worldwide: January 12th, 2024
