Undersmile - Anhedonia - review
Undersmile - Anhedonia - review
Tracklist
01. Labyrinths02. Sky Burial
03. Song Of Stones
04. Atacama Sunburn
05. Aeris
06. Emmenagogue
07. Knucklesucker
A review by
Auntie Sahar April 30, 2015
Anhedonia, Undersmile's sophomore effort, continues in the direction of their debut, while also further developing upon the band's sound in several areas. As the album's title suggests, the music here is a somber journey through a dark, expansive, and heavy doom landscape, that only appears to further unravel its mysteries the further into it you go. Though Anhedonia is in general very massive and melancholic in its sound, there are noticeable shifts in songwriting throughout it, and the vocals of Hel Sterne and Taz Corona-Brown combine effortlessly to reinforce them all. "Sky Burial" is perhaps the best example: as the music is more relaxed and atmospheric, the pair focus on a soft, almost whisper-like delivery, but then explode into a borderline yelling approach when the heavier riffage kicks in. The vocals thus weave their way around the music seamlessly, helping the latter build to climaxes that never feel rushed or devoid of feeling.
Anhedonia also sees the addition of a new instrument to Undersmile's formula: violin! Particularly on "Song Of Stones," the deep, resonant tone of it can be heard buried under the guitar, briefly coming out in the forefront before retreating back into the cavernous riffs from whence it came. It's not as up front a use of it as you'd find in, say, SubRosa, more of a subtle, hidden usage, but it still helps to add a new dimension to the music that only further builds upon the dark and heavy vibe, and it definitely raises curiosity as to what Undersmile may continue to do with it in the future.
Within the realm of female-fronted doom, Undersmile definitely sit at the darker and more imposing end of the spectrum. I've frequently seen them compared to Monarch, Bloody Panda, and SubRosa, and while these comparisons are all valid, there's still something about the band's sound that can unquestionably be called their own. Between the repetitive, trance-inducing riffs, the dreamlike clean guitar melodies, and the stunning vocal deliveries from Hel and Taz, Undersmile have established a highly enjoyable musical personality that is both haunting, transcendental, and eerily attractive, somehow all at the same time. Anhedonia only continues this trend, and is a worthwhile addition to any doom fan's collection.
Ominous music never sounded this beautiful.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 10 |
| Originality: | 9 |
| Production: | 9 |
Written by Auntie Sahar | April 30, 2015
Comments
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Posts: 1127
Nice review, but yo link is broken.
---- Daily underground metal recommendations at Metal Trenches. Watch metal content on the Metal Trenches YouTube Channel.
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Posts: 5989 Written by flightoficarus on 30.04.2015 at 19:22 Working fine on this end, boss man. Might be your browser? Or, of course, that you just don't have a Spotify account?
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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Posts: 5989 Written by PocketMetal on 30.04.2015 at 23:58 I almost always confuse the two  I know that generally cellos are deeper in tone, but violins can be as well, so it's difficult for my ear to make the distinction.
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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Posts: 40071 Written by Auntie Sahar on 01.05.2015 at 00:03 Just check the info in the cd booklet what it is 
---- Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.) 05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996 
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Posts: 121  |
Posts: 121
It does sound deeper in tone at times. Could they have incorporated both a cello AAAND a violin? 
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Posts: 5989 Written by Lionthrone on 01.05.2015 at 03:23 Liner notes confirmed: it is a cello. One Jo Quail, to be exact
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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Posts: 107  |
Posts: 107
Aeris is one of the best doom songs I've ever heard. Incredible album.
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Posts: 5989 Written by Mechaniacal on 07.05.2015 at 19:47 The vote for my fave probably goes either to Sky Burial or Atacama Sunburn, but the whole album is just fantastic, indeed.
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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Posts: 505  |
Posts: 505
I'm surprised this hasn't got more attention. But then again you could say that about many bands. I've been listening this album regularly the whole year. Atacama Sunburn, Aeris, Song of Stones are utterly beautiful.
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