ALBUM REVIEW: Alluvion – Mizmor & Hell

Having dipped into each other’s creative pockets for some time and releasing a split back in 2014, a full collaboration between MIZMOR‘s M.S.W and HELL’s A.L.N was always written in the stars. As MIZMOR & HELL collide together, the meshing of two similar lacerating universes brings Alluvion, an elixir of blackened sludge and doom that you do not want to listen to in a good mood. 

Not intended to be subtle or soft on the ears, the record is designed as a map to navigate bouts of psychic distress. With that, it’s a punishing listen. Not from a production or technical standpoint, but from the sheer emotional gravity and unshakable dread that’s woven into every note. Comprised of four tracks, the two longer pieces serve as pillars, divided by shorter noise interludes that feel almost meditative against the harsh unrelenting force of the extended cuts. 

Opening track, Begging To Be Lost, eats up almost 16 minutes of the record’s 39 minute run time. Starting delicate, almost soothing, with low, subdued tones, the track erupts into waves of distortion and thick fuzz. There’s a dark eeriness throughout, which, combined with the repetition of each riff becomes magnetic and hypnotic. At first listen, it’s a barrage of suffocating, blackened droning. But the more you listen, the more layers reveal themselves and jump out from the mix, demanding your full attention. 

While the second full track, Pandemonium’s Throat follows a similar structure, it’s more accessible. The opening sequence is bone-chilling, inducing goosebumps and shivers before punching through into an oppressive glaze of slow-building disparity and funeral doom. At the halfway mark, the track leans into more traditional metal elements, offering a slight contrast to the harrowing intensity of earlier moments. However it’s the vocals that command the most attention. The layering of vocals add a visceral layer of desperation even amid the lighter passages, as if they were souls crying out for help. 

In short, Alluvion achieves what it set out to do. There’s a profound connection rooted in the desperation the artists have poured into their work, submerging their souls into the music. The record is undeniably dark and pessimistic, but occasionally opens to fleeting glimpses of bliss and hope, only to be plunged again into unfathomable despair. It represents a perfect depiction of how the mind shifts when confronted with mental anguish. While it may not resonate to everyone in this way, its sheer heaviness and masterful composition make it memorable. 

An essential release of the year for fans of doom, sludge, and black metal. The more you listen, the deeper its effect becomes. At first you are struck by the overwhelming weight of the sound, but it grows on you, forcing yourself to get lost in the moment. A.L.N and M.S.W have meshed their minds, their pain, into notes. 

Rating: 7/10

Alluvion is out now via Gilead Media.

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