No Point in Living is hailing from Japan and it has been in the scene since 2015. This is very prolific entity under mastermind, one individual called Yu. This is the brand new opus and it contains seven songs. Music of No Point in Living can be described as a mixture between depressive suicidal black metal, more aggressive and raw black metal and atmospheric black metal with longer songs and so many emotions in this opus, making me remember why I love black metal so much as a means of expressing darkness, atmosphere, feelings and your innermost self and demons. Lyrically this opus delves in waters of self hate, depression, hopelessness, making it out of this alive or dead, darkness and nihilism and misanthropy. Vocals are deeper in some songs like singing from coffin or beneath the earth, gloomy and dark, so is guitar work, but there are lots of tempo changes in song parts but retaining some really melodic, at times acoustic synth backed parts to make it almost a vessel comprised of soundscape black ship which takes your mind and body to other spiritual dark dimension in which you feel painful but good at the same time. My personal favorites on this one are: ‘All or Nothing’, ‘Beautiful Tragedy’ and ‘Song of Loser’.
Happy Days from USA released their first full length in last five years. Why, maybe you wonder? Why so long? Well, this opus will give you an answer. There is an eerie intro plus ten songs of explanation on this opus. For those who don’t know, Happy Days play depressive black metal, raw and atmospheric with all the conviction of an occupant of psychiatric institution and between four walls different ideas occur, maybe only to me, but I am sure that also to A.Morbid who wrote his most deep and personal opus with this one. My metal brother in my hometown once told me that depressive black metal is non existent because it destroys the meaning of bm, being aggressive and yet atmospheric music and that all dsbm bands are in fact Burzum clones turning one or two riffs all along. This band and album is something I will play to my brother to prove that his statement is not true. Just listen to slow, doomy rolls of ‘J’y étais’ with almost post black metal guitar work, fantastic anguished screaming and female spoken vocals topped with choirs, making it a fantastic opus. ‘Hollow’ is another absolute highlight, I am amazed how Happy Days manage to connect black metal with gentle piano and synth melodies, almost ethereal clean vocals turning into anguished tortured screams, superb female vocals and great songwriting like a whirlwind of emotions. Songs like ‘Mors Vincit Omnia’ and ironic ‘Life Goes On…’ show all the heartbreak, emptiness, bare blooded flesh of emotions without skin or mask. This is a tour de force of emotional black metal.
Monotone Depression is an entity hailing from Sweden and this is a re-release of two demos both recorded in 1998 during the entity’s stay at mental institution. As Bandcamp says, music from bipolar dungeon, so I can relate to psychological side of things, because I am on the similar side as this entity, so I was eager to listen and enjoy this little piece of record. Some of the music on this nine songs has been edited with today’s technology. The music is complicated yet deep and simple at the same time. Some songs have almost punk rock or post punk melody and melancholy feel like Sister Of The Dark. Gothic rock and death rock with interesting vocal effects and gothic melodies are present in Out Of Tune With Life, but I also love depressive black metal influenced guitar work in On A Plane With The Devil. Lyrics are important part of music on this opus, so although some are really minimal, I can understand their meaning and entity behind them. Also, songs that I must mention being a stand out for me are Of Darkness And Suicidal Thoughts and The Loss Of A Worthless Father. This is not for everyone. I love it!
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 