It hasn’t been a bad year for Melodic Black Metal. With bands such as Frozen Dawn and Moonlight Sorcery releasing very good and great albums respectively, as well as Uada finally making a decent album again, fans of the genre have been feasting well this year. Enter Putrascension: a supergroup of sorts featuring members from Replicant, Windfaerer, Tombs, and other acts. Their blend of Melodic Black Metal is one of the more interesting styles I’ve heard this year. Instead of just Black Metal with melody, they add in hints of dissonance (“Carved in Fog”), a breakdown of sorts (“Void Within”), and some tasty Death Metal riffs that are absolutely neck snapping (“Deeper Hell”). Production is also a highlight here, showcasing each of the band’s strengths in their songwriting.
The real highlight on this album is easily Michael Gonçalves (Replicant, Windfaerer). His vocals are absolutely unhinged, giving him a demonic edge that works so well in this style of music. His rabid shrieks, howls, and moans are reasons why it’s easy to come back to the album time and again. Guitar and bass work are also highlights, and while the bass is not always completely audible, there are moments of bass noodling that add depth to the songs. Twisting, winding guitar leads make tracks such as “Stillness” quite enjoyable to listen to. There’s even a guest violin appearance on the closing track. That being said, while this is a tightly written album, I find it not sticking as well as it could. The fun factor is there, but the biggest problem is the longevity factor. In a year tightly packed with great releases on the Melodic Black Metal and the Death Metal side, albums need to be more than just fun to truly stand out from the rest of the pack. Another issue I have with this album is that it tends to be a bit backloaded on relistens, with the first couple of tracks not really giving the necessary “umph” required to generate proper momentum. I do think Putrascension is worth a few listens though. It’s quite fun, and the vocals of Gonçalves never disappoint. I only hope that their next album has more staying power.
