ALBUM REVIEW: Ethic Of Radical Finitude – Downfall Of Gaia

Underground metal has been going strength to strength as of late. There have been countless waves of artistically potent and critically acclaimed artists; DOWNFALL OF GAIA are one such band. Initially forming as purveyors of a hybrid of crust-punk/d-beat in 2008, predating the boom of popularity this particular sub-genre would experience only years later, the band’s sound has evolved in sublime ways. By incorporating elements of sludge metal, atmospheric and experimental black metal like that of WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM and ALTAR OF PLAGUES, and theatrical post-rock, the band have successfully striven into new territories and injected life into their sound. By opening up these frontiers, they were able to establish a future for themselves artistically and avoid any threats of stagnation.

While their debut album Epos showed promise, it was their breakthrough album, 2012’s Suffocating In The Swarm Of Cranes, which established DOWNFALL OF GAIA as one of the leading lights in metal’s underground. A bold and adventurous amalgam of diverging strands of metal, the band released what would come to be known as their first masterpiece. Utterly perfect was also the timing – NEUROSIS, one of DOWNFALL OF GAIA’s primary influences, released Honor Found In Decay the same year, which proved to be an unremarkable album within their discography. Fans were itching for an album of worthy of their standard, and DOWNFALL OF GAIA found themselves in the right place at the right time, and in prime position to capitalise on both their talents and their good fortune. Since then, the band have been working away producing metal which is both experimental and cinematic to an exceptional standard, asserting themselves as one of the most consistently reliable bands in their scene.

However, DOWNFALL OF GAIA have been yet to release an album to the standard of the 2012 magnum opus. By no means have they done anything to disappoint their fans, yet it somehow felt the band hadn’t produced something worthy of quite the same fervour. Now, it is a thrill to report that they have, as Ethic Of Radical Finitude is, with ease, their finest effort to date.

There is a key difference with this new album. DOWNFALL OF GAIA has garnered a reputation for their tasteful use of themes, having produced some of the most well-rounded concept albums of recent years, and yet they have decided to do away with their comfort zone this time around, instead opting for a less restrictive structure. However, there is a theme ever-present throughout the album, uniting the seemingly sporadic songs: discontent. It’s a compelling issue, especially in these turbulent times, and it’s tackled with grace and scope in a way very few young bands are able to accomplish.

The leap forward in quality is made abundantly clear immediately. Opening with a haunting overture, the drama slowly bleeds into earshot, the instrumentation swelling and falling like a sleeping beast. It commands the attention of the listener, and the payoff is glorious. The opening track proper The Grotesque Illusion Of Being begins with fiery, tumbling drum fill before a soaring riff glides into view. It’s an overwhelming canvas, and when complimented by vocalist Dominik Goncalves dos Reis’s piercing shrieks, it is an utterly arresting piece of art. The song may stop short of 6 minutes, but a great deal of territory is explored – the majority of the song can be described as deeply atmospheric black metal with a lumbering rhythm section, but the central piece of the track is a folk suite which wouldn’t sound out of place on an OPETH album during their Candlelight era.

The track bleeds into the following piece, We Pursue The Serpent of Time, by adopting a soundscape which as apocalyptic as it is orchestral. This is the longest song on the album, while always being the most adventure. While it opens in staggeringly heavy fashion, a cavernous ode to misanthropy, it quickly gives way to moments of magnificent bliss. First impressions call upon comparisons to bands such as LEVIATHAN or XASTHUR, such is its unwelcoming nature, but in the blink of an eye, DOWNFALL OF GAIA adopt the meditative leads and hypnotic rhythms of a band like TOOL. It takes an immense understanding of this art to explore these frontiers and glide over the lines in the sand with such ease, and it’s clear this group possess all the necessary skills.

However, Ethic Of Radical Finitude‘s highlight comes with it’s bowing gesture; the closing track, Of Withering Violet Leaves. Here DOWNFALL OF GAIA lead a march which is as mournful as it is menacing, leading the listener to a crescendo which shows the band at their most cathartic. Calculated chaos is the key to success here, as the bleeding-heart performances consistently remain on the right side of melodramatic, as the vocals howl, rich with misery, over a bludgeoning soundscape. It’s a peerless way to finish an album, contrasting magnificently with the eerie but ultimately pristine intro-piece.

While it is true we are suffering no shortage of exquisite metal right now, it would be foolish of us to bite the hand that feeds, and DOWNFALL OF GAIA have provided a feast. Ethic Of Radical Finitude is a triumphant magnum opus, sure to quash the hunger of any self-respecting metal fan. Bold in its experimentation and defiant in its execution, DOWNFALL OF GAIA have crafted a masterwork worthy of worship.

Rating: 8/10

Ethic Of Radical Finitude is set for release February 8th via Metal Blade Records. 

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