Band:	Austere
Album:	Corrosion Of Hearts
Style:	Depressive black metal
Release date:	April 28, 2023
A review by:	X-Ray Rod

01. Sullen
02. A Ravenous Oblivion
03. The Poisoned Core
04. Pale

A glorious return. As if time never touched them.

The Australian duo Austere managed to form a solid reputation in the late 2000s due to their two albums Withering Illusions And Desolation and To Lay Like Old Ashes. The world of depressive/suicidal black metal is one I don’t follow as closely as I did before; that being said, Austere always struck a particular cord in my heart for their passionate riffing and harrowing vocal work, as well as a production that always elevated their music to grand results. A 14-year hiatus has left a mark on their legacy, as expectations are near impossible to keep low. It is with great pleasure that I say that every patient soul that has waited for their return will rejoice.

Corrosion Of Hearts is their shortest album at just over 46 minutes in length, but to these ears it is the one that packs the most concentrated flavor. With only four songs to present to the hungry listeners, Austere wastes no time at all. The heartbreaking sorrow of the inviting melodies is once again doubled by pristine production that cleverly puts the riffs and synth in front, while the vocals, both harsh and clean, take the back seat. The performance shows excellent execution of the craft, with the powerful drumming being an element that stands out as much as the razor-sharp riffs. With their galloping force, they carry the songs to towering heights. Corrosion Of Hearts really has a gigantic sound that only gets better with higher volume.

One could argue that the hiatus did them a good service, because their return makes it clearer why they are one of the best bands in the genre. Oh boy, I forgot how the heartbreaking howls were so piercing and the riffs so majestic. I often found myself staring at nothing, just going “damn...” for their massive sound. It is an immersive listening that grabs you from the get-go. The only exception appears to be the third track, “The Poisoned Core”, which takes a little longer to fully develop and did not grab my attention as much as the others. Its’ ending is not as grandiose as the other three either. It does work well as a palette cleanser, however, for the slower, doomy, tempo of this track counters the intensity delivered by the other three songs and leaves some breathing room. This introspective song prepares the listener for “Pale”, which has such a triumphant yet bittersweet melody by the end that you’d find yourself humming it for minutes after the album finishes.

With a direct approach and an appropriate running time that leaves little margin for error, it is clear to me that Corrosion Of Hearts is Austere's best record yet. It manages to do everything the previous albums achieved with far less time. Welcome back, gentlemen. You were sorely missed.