ALBUM REVIEW: Unwavering Resonance – 0N0

Hailing from Bratislava, 0N0 is an experimental death-doom trio, bringing in flashes of industrial influence and aiming to sound unlike anybody else out there in terms of both their composition and production. With their new, third record Unwavering Resonance, they seek to continue a fine run of form that sees them take that next step towards achieving their mission statement.

But before we dive straight into the record review, let’s unpick that elevator pitch a little bit first: industrial, experimental death-doom. The promo lists Unwavering Resonance as being for fans of the likes of GODFLESH, ESOTERIC and ULCERATE, as well as MESHUGGAH and TYPE O NEGATIVE. In fairness, it’s a decent snapshot of the end product, and industrial, experimental death-doom seems fitting. But there’s also a healthy dose of post-metal woven into proceedings, while vocals sit firmly in the realm of blackened death, with the bone-rattling lows and the heart-stopping highs giving the record a benevolent malice that’s hard to shake. In short, there’s not a whole lot out there that sounds the way 0N0 does, which takes care of the composition half of their overarching goal. 

Throughout the record, 0N0 employ very much a ‘wall of sound’ approach, barely giving the listener the time to take in what is happening to them. It means that the likes of album opener Clay Weight – clocking in at over 12 minutes – becomes something of a test of endurance. But despite seemingly starting at maximum velocity, they find a way to push the envelope farther. Riffs are gargantuan and at times mathy and the underlying ambience gives an atmosphere that could be cut with a knife. It all builds to an infernal racket in the back half of the track that is nothing short of spectacular and it’s a marvel that the wheels don’t come off, either through fatigue or sheer unbridled intensity. Hair-raising stuff.

Wander The Vacant Twilight closes the album out with more of that lush atmosphere, complete with grand, sparse passages of drone and prog-tinged sections that are cosmic in stature. It’s a fitting end to the record as it continues their established practice, but it does beg the question of whether or not there are enough ideas throughout Unwavering Resonance to be a body of work you’ll want to return to. For this reviewer, it absolutely will be, but the record is undoubtedly challenging and that makes this the kind of album that many will need to steel themselves or be in the right mood for. Easy Sunday listening this most certainly will not be for anybody, no matter how heavy their tastes.

All in all, 0N0 have delivered a stellar release, however you ultimately choose to categorise it. As a melting pot of influence, this may stand as one of the year’s best examples of what it means to push and test pre-conceived boundaries of genre. The experimentation is vast but well enough realised to avoid falling into a confusing mess. And even if you do find it a bit too ‘out there’, it clocks in at just 35 minutes, which is nothing for an album as stratospheric in musical scope as Unwavering Resonance. Strap yourselves in and try to enjoy the ride… there will be few others quite like it this year.

Rating: 8/10

Unwavering Resonance is set for release on June 24th via The House Of What You See.

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