ALBUM REVIEW: Portent – False

What could make better listening on a sunny July afternoon than the bleak undertones of a black metal opus? Polarised spectacularly against the warm rays beating down from above, the cold touch of the latest release from American genre gods FALSE is certainly not for the faint of heart. Blistering, dense and far from mundane, Portent is a whirlwind of sonic madness that blends fast pace with galvanising melody to take the listener on an epic journey of loss and despair. Destined to redefine the extreme underground, it is likely the most ambitious release from the American metallers to date, injected with the correct ratio of angst and instrumental talent.

FALSE have presented the record in three tracks, each spanning over ten minutes in length, and this formula helps achieve the towering scale that they set out to achieve. From the very outset we are slapped with overwhelming noise, that creeps from shadowy depths and becomes a rampant attack. A Victual To Our Dead Selves scrambles skyward with vivacious energy, showcasing frenetic drum-work and achingly beautiful guitar-work. Listening to the three strings men combine eloquently around pained vocals and haunting keys is a pleasure to behold, and the track becomes a numbing experience, difficult to tear oneself away from.

During the writing process, each member was subject to unthinkable horror. Dealing with loss, sorrow and a kind of unbearable pain that is difficult to imagine, they subconsciously channelled this negative energy into the music they were making, and the outcome is a true reflection of this period in their lives. Determined to not let such devastation drag them backwards, sheer will and perseverance drove the album forwards, and because of this the album mirrors the strength of those involved in its inception.

As the album continues through Rime On The Song Of Returning, vocalist Rachel N. remains on top form, wailing with immaculate precision and an apparently manic motive to detail the true atrocities contained within the lyrical subject matter. Ultra melodic riffs weave amongst blackened clamour and the drums seem implemented with ever more urgency. It is beautiful in that it is dark and chaotic, and while melodiousness wrestles with pitch black dissonance, we are left trapped in a cacophony of black metal excellence. There is no doubting the ominous feel of the record, which can be a little uncomfortable at times, but this links neatly back to the album’s roots. It is intended as a distressing listen, and as sombre notes rain down, we are thrown into the same devastating vortex as the band themselves.

At times, sections of The Serpent Sting, The Smell Of Goat feel very much like post metal. It is spacious, atmospheric and floats on the wind, creating a listening space that is more serene than previously heard. The black metal bite is still there, but this time it is mixed neatly amidst this tranquillity to build a track that feels gigantic. These sonic peaks and valleys feel like an perilous journey, and culminate in a finale packed with nimble guitar and a torrent of drums, before playing out in subtle style. There is just enough time for Postlude to close the album as a short, key driven outro, before the final stop.

It has to be said that FALSE have battled adversity and overcome nightmarish circumstances to craft Portent, and whether or not the dingy ambience is taken in good taste, it is certainly an echo of the band’s tormented mindset. For this reason alone, it is a work of art, and its acquired taste will be unleashed on the world with tremendous weight. FALSE are on top form, and the world of black metal continues to be all the better off for that.

Rating: 8/10

Portent is set for release July 12th via Gilead Media. 

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