Downfall of Gaia

Svalbard – When I Die, Will I Get Better? Review

By Dear Hollow on September 23, 2020 in Reviews, Black Metal, Post-Hardcore, Post-Metal, 54 comments

“It’s hard to have hope sometimes. We live our lives constantly getting up and going, always moving onto the next thing—moths chasing flames that grow more elusive as the dawn approaches. We’re tortured by silence in a screaming year, laced with events of turmoil and perpetual change—a silver silence that holds a mirror up to our faces and our truths. And we don’t always like what we see. It’s hard to have hope when we’re distracted, romanced by the illusion of productivity, blinded by privilege, and shielding our weary eyes from discomfort. This is what makes Svalbard so important; they force us to look.” Dying to heal.

Bâ’a – Deus Qui Non Mentitur Review

By Dear Hollow on April 20, 2020 in 2020, Ambient, Black Metal, French Metal, Hardcore, Osmose Productions, Post-metal, Reviews, Ambient, Black Metal, Hardcore, Post-Metal, 48 comments

“Bâ’a is an anonymous French black metal trio, and while pronunciation of the name remains unclear, their debut album Deus Qui Non Mentitur[ rips open the gates with stunning clarity in scorching tremolo, blastbeats, bass riffing, mammoth songwriting, morose atmosphere, and a fiery preacher for a vocalist.” Sheep becomes wolves.

Calligram – The Eye Is The First Circle Review

By Dear Hollow on April 10, 2020 in 2020, Black Metal, Crust Punk, Doom Metal, Hardcore, International Metal, Prosthetic Records, Punk, Reviews, Sludge Metal, Black Metal, Crust Punk, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, 40 comments

“How can music communicate the feeling of dread? While all styles are able, metal’s inherent darkness fits like a glove. While it’s easy to provide aural bludgeoning or emphasize excess, the discipline of restraint takes time and effort. From the post-metal dirges of Neurosis, the avant-garde buildups of Eryn Non Dae., the spiraling doom of Swallowed, the blackened payoffs of Cultes des Ghoules, and the death metal environs of Desolate Shrine, it revels in darkness, plays with menace, but most notably, waits patiently.” Waiting in the darkness.

Neaera – Neaera Review

By Mark Z. on March 7, 2020 in 2020, German Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metal Blade, Metalcore, Reviews, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, 10 comments

“No matter how hard you try, you can never really escape your past. By day I’m the kvltest of the kvlt, blasting the blakkened fukkin death while wearing a shirt that depicts Jesus getting flogged by a horde of goat demons. But when I curl up at night with my plesiosaurus plush, I know at heart I’m still the same mid-aughts core kid who got his start in the metal world with Killswitch Engage and their ilk. Even today, when the promo teat runs dry, sometimes I find myself returning to where it all began: core.” Damn core kids!

Mark Z.’s and L. Saunders’ Top Ten(ish) of 2019

By Dr. Wvrm on December 29, 2019 in 2019, Blog Posts, Lists, 55 comments

Mark Z. and L. Saunders have their moment in the blackened sun to proclaim their Top Ten(ish) preferences for 2019. Fear the words.

Latitudes – Part Island Review

By TheKenWord on April 9, 2019 in 2019, Ambient Metal, Black Metal, British Metal, Debemur Morti, Doom Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Ambient Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, 49 comments

“I have historically shown more than a little apprehension towards the post-metal tag. At first, I felt it screamed pretension, a trait that tends to break my enjoyment of music if not kept in check. Lately, though, I’ve reassessed my opinion after finding deep enjoyment of bands often placed within the post-metal spectrum—Astronoid, Downfall of Gaia, and more recently, Latitudes.” No man is Part Island.

Downfall of Gaia – Ethic of Radical Finitude Review

By Mark Z. on February 6, 2019 in 2019, Black Metal, German Metal, Metal Blade, Post-metal, Reviews, Black Metal, Post-Metal, 115 comments

“Downfall of Gaia hit me hard in recent years, blowing me away with 2014’s Aeon Unveils the Thrones of Decay and 2016’s Atrophy. Both albums explored the idea of a world in decline with a combination of post-metal and black metal that proudly upheld the torch of the almighty (and sadly defunct) Altar of Plagues. Yet fifth full-length Ethic of Radical Finitude initially made me nervous due to its somewhat pretentious title and the fear that the German quartet had no tricks left in the bag.” Is the downfall upon us?

Karg – Dornenvögel [Things You Might Have Missed 2018]

By Master of Muppets on December 19, 2018 in 2018, Art of Propaganda, Austrian Metal, Black Metal, Reviews, Things You Might Have Missed 2018, Atmospheric Black Metal, 65 comments

“If you’re like me in more socially acceptable ways, you fvcking love Harakiri for the Sky. Something about those cloying tremolo-picked melodies coupled with J.J.’s soulfelt screams just fucking does it for me in a way that I can’t get enough of, so checking out homeboy’s one-man blackened adventure, Karg, was a no-brainer for me while I waited out February’s Arson. Thank Jørn I did, as it gave me the opportunity to properly anticipate the project’s then-pending 6th full-length release, Dornenvögel, and likewise be that much more satisfied by its utter fucking greatness.” Karg the Exterminator.

Avast – Mother Culture Review

By Master of Muppets on October 30, 2018 in 2018, Black Metal, Dark Essence Records, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, 83 comments

“Dear Kronos, If you’re reading this, it’s already too late. When the respective hazes of gun smoke and cranial-injury clear, you’ll find your army of feral pigs disposed of and your fortress reduced to rubble; I even sang Porcupine Tree as everything burned to the ground, how’s that for brutal, yo? Anyway, you knew this was coming. You had something of mine – that’s right, had. Not only are you down a fortress and a pig army, but you’ll also find yourself no longer in possession of Avast‘s Mother Culture.” Speak the Charm of Taking.

Abstracter – Cinereous Incarnate Review

By Mark Z. on June 18, 2018 in 2018, American Metal, Black Metal, Doom Metal, I Voidhanger Records, Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, 46 comments

“I was once pretty optimistic about the future, but in recent years my outlook has grown progressively more dismal. Humanity has continued to ravage the planet while conveniently ignoring the fact that perpetual growth is impossible, and the result will be a future more nightmarish than a thousand blackened sludge bands could ever conjure. Of course, that doesn’t stop them from trying, and few succeed at evoking these apocalyptic images as well as Abstracter.” Dismal cool.