ALBUM REVIEW: Grey Everlasting – Deathwhite
In a world of instant access to whatever we want, the mysterious things in life are a welcome relief, even if we as humans enjoy the challenge of working them out. For bands, this often comes in the form of solving the identities of masked members; everyone did it with SLIPKNOT and MUSHROOMHEAD at the turn of the millennium, whilst the individuals behind the masks of GHOST‘s Nameless Ghouls or the hoods of SLEEP TOKEN continue to raise conversations. Less talked about, but just as elusive, are DEATHWHITE, a three piece from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who are yet to have their true faces known to the world a decade after they formed. Known only as DW, AM and LM, the trio began writing new material for the follow up to 2020’s Grave Image shortly after it was released and just prior to the global pandemic; recorded last year, that album, Grey Everlasting, is the band’s third full record and is out now via Seasons of Mist.
Given the timing of the band’s decision to begin writing Grey Everlasting, it is of little surprise that the record is a darker affair than before, even with their penchant for writing doom-laden music that highlights the gloomier side of the world. Indeed, the band themselves have said that “The human race has had more than enough time to coexist, but cannot get it right…and never will“. No wonder, then, that this record is nearly 50 minutes of bleak, morose metal that doesn’t paint with much colour; the opening track is called Nihil for a start. However, for all that the swirling of melancholy guitars, pessimistic vocals and complex drum fills are creating a landscape of – appropriately given the title – many hues of grey, there is a beauty to be found within the record as a whole.
From Nihil comes Earthtomb, a sprawling affair with pockets of blast beats and death metal interludes to twist and turn the senses. Quietly, Suddenly brings the guitars to the fore with some excellent, piercings solos and the title track rumbles along with a quiet sinisterism, the vocals seemingly little more than a whisper. By contrast, White Sleep brings the pace back with more explosive drumming. It’s really quite impressive that DEATHWHITE have taken elements such as double-bass kicks and paired them with something much more pedestrian than would be expected, yet balanced it out absolutely perfectly; it’s truly a marvel to behold. The album finishes with the six-minute Asunder, an exemplary lesson in what can be done with a blank musical canvas and very little in the way of vibrant shades to choose from; as the track moves along, it barely hits a crescendo, yet is utterly compelling in every respect.
Those who are accustomed to the strains of A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH or ANATHEMA will find much to enjoy here, as will those of a more gothic disposition in the form of PARADISE LOST. It goes without saying that DEATHWHITE haven’t created a happy album whatsoever, but Grey Everlasting plays into that human condition of seeking out negative scenarios on morbid curiosity alone.
Rating: 7/10
Grey Everlasting is out now via Season Of Mist.
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