ALBUM REVIEW: Last Contact – Withering Soul
When it comes to metal, there’s more of a focus than ever on bands that can mix things up and provide the unexpected in their sound. With a descriptor like ‘blackened melodeath’ the opportunity is there for trio WITHERING SOUL to deliver a record that runs a gamut of sound and style, and at times, Last Contact is that. Mostly however, the record falls back into black metal tropes that, while well executed, don’t exactly prick the ears through the sea of similar material out in the world. Though there are standout moments, there needs to be a bit more experimentation and variety for this band to really begin to make a big impact.
After the ambient opening track Visitation, Allegory Of The Void delivers that classic black metal tremolo drone, but the mix could even go a bit farther to highlight the melody buried within. The vocals set a good tone with an apropos death metal growl with a blackened edge. They’re crisp and clear, and they stay consistently solid throughout the record. For this first track proper, for all its subtle melodic elements, especially in the leads, they remain muted in the mix. Carrion Reflection is more of the same, but leans even heavier into black metal sensibility. Sadly, the passages and riffs in this song just end up feeling repetitive and a bit same old same old. The backing synths and choral elements add texture, but again, they’re mixed too quiet and low to really spice up the song.
Credit where credit is due, Of Blackened Pillars is a great track, and absolutely the best on the album on top of being the longest. With a twisting Middle Eastern sounding guitar melody to open the track, the song is a constantly turning kaleidoscope of genres which switch back and forth but all mesh together seamlessly. There’s a black ‘n’ roll passage before the track launches into straight black metal with some excellent riffing throughout. There’s a chance during the interlude for the bass to shine as well before the riffs get deep and crunchy, slowing down around the six-minute mark into a more deathy passage. Capped off with a fun tapping solo at the end, this should be an instant download.
If the first half leaned 60-40 into black metal, the back half of the record switches and leans 60-40 into death metal. Ascent To Madness slows the pace way down, with dirge-like drums commanding the track and chugging riffs to match. Once again, there are choral elements here tucked into the background, but again, the band falls into a pattern of repetition that gets in their own way. Though the playing throughout the album is solid, with talented musicians across the board, it’s their songcraft that requires a bit more fine tuning. Into The Harrowing Expanse unfortunately is also a bit paint by numbers until the last third of the track, when it slows into a galloping pace, giving the track more time to breathe and showcase an excellent solo and a very strong and epic lead. This track in particular brings the most melodeath into the band’s descriptor, as the entire end of the song feels very much in line with the Gothenburg classics.
The Transcendence Of Night opens with a hell march on the snare and leads to an incredibly unique guitar riff tempo that almost functions as an auditory illusion on its own before the drums fall in line with it. It makes for a disorienting but very satisfying effect, and the riffing that occurs halfway through the track is among the best of the record. Final track Uncharted Course is more pretty standard blackened death stuff, but the tempo changes and vocals on this track bring to mind the excellent ORBIT CULTURE with how thick and chunky the riffs are and how throaty the vocal tone is. It takes on an overall different feel from the rest of the record, which makes it one of the brightest spots on the album and a solid closer.
WITHERING SOUL have the talent to write some incredibly interesting sections of songs and even entire tracks, but too often they fall into repetition and comfort on Last Contact. There are some excellent tracks on this record, but too many rely on tropes that have been done so many times before that it becomes a bit tiring. Musicianship is not the band’s issue here, it’s simply a matter of songcraft. But there is a spark, and if they learn that the most varied tracks are the best on this record, then hopefully their next is as a diverse showing as those tracks. That’s their ticket to the next step up.
Rating: 6/10
Lost Contact is set for release on September 24th via Mortal Music.
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