One of the great mysteries of our collective existences is what, if anything, lies beyond this plane. We all will face our demise, as it’s a guarantee we can’t bargain or argue our way out of, so the idea of going somewhere after we expire here on Earth is something of a comfort. Even the idea of living forever is unsettling, because it’s so hard to imagine existence stretching out and never ceasing for a second.
“Clandestine Transcendence” is the new long player from Lord Dying, their fourth overall and most musically diverse to date. On this 12-track, nearly hourlong excursion, the band—vocalist/guitarist Erik Olson, guitarist Chris Evans, bassist/vocalist Alyssa Maucere, drummer Kevin Swartz—tells of a fictional character The Dreamer, an immortal being who no longer wants the gift or curse of eternal life. The character is granted his wish, and this album explores the experiences he confronts beyond the wall of death. The band still packs their trademark sludgy punch, and there are some impossibly heavy moments on this record. But they stretch beyond that, adding exoanded melodic texture, some cleaner singing, and a more diverse set of tools that open up a world of possibilities.
“The Universe Is Weeping” begins with guitars trickling and the haze picking up, and then the pace begins moving, Olson’s howls cutting through the smoke. The intensity continues until a washed-out end with Maucere repeating, “We know we’ve lost our way now.” “I AM NOTHING, I AM EVERYTHING” bludgeons from the get-go, leads dive bomb, and the trudging continues and mixes with soaring leads. Gritty howls push with the mauling tempo, adding sharp teeth and grit that ends in black metal-style dramatics. “Unto Becoming” is the first track that shows their foray into new territories, Olson’s singing sometimes sounding gothy, the pace taking on more of a rock feel. But it’s not without its crumbling and devastation, shrieks peeling as Olson calls, “We are the keepers beyond the light,” as everything crashes to the ground. “Final Push Into the Sun” blisters and mauls, raining fire from the heavens, the shrieks battering along with bellowing singing. Mystical weirdness and a synth cloud envelop, guitars lather, and a psychedelic edge takes over your mind. “Dancing on the Emptiness” is the longest track here, running 8:06 and getting off to a tempered start. The singing scars as dark guitars jangle, hypnotic winds picking up, playing growing more forceful. Atmospheric jolts mix with moody guitar work, and suddenly we’re deep into nighttime vibes, feeling like we’re travelling well past midnight as Olson calls, “We all fall apart.” “Facing the Incomprehensible” begins with ominous tones, shrieks punishing, a vicious pace leaving welts on your body. Doom waters grow darker, the playing batters bodies, and the guitar work heads toward the sun, tearing out hearts along the way.
“A Brief Return to Physical Form” is a quick, strange interlude with acoustics washing over rocks, disarming haziness spreading, and everything bleeding into “A Bond Broken by Death” that’s progressively fueled and bursts with life. Guitars zap as the singing digs deep, making for one of the more approachable tracks on the record, blending into rustic atmosphere. Later, metallic jolts leave burns, melodic fire licks steel, and the propulsive energy disappears into the sky. “Break in the Clouds (In the Darkness of Our Minds)” starts acoustically, Olson singing, “The Dreamer awakes at the gates of dawn, he waits for the sun, but the sun never comes.” The playing eventually lands heavy punches, battering with molten howls that trade off with dreamy singing, the leads lathering before a warped ending. “Soul Metamorphosis” opens with tricky guitars and fiery howls, melting into psyche madness, raw growls opening wounds. The playing floods and overwhelms, shrieks dice flesh, and the thrashing power delivers a vicious end. “Swimming in the Absence” makes your flesh tingle as deeper singing settles into your cells, the reflective pace also finding ways to be jostling. Spirited calls rise to the surface, sorrowful, yet heavy melodies dominate, and the final moments slowly dissolve into closer “The Endless Road Home” that’s blunt and harsh. Olson’s howls remind of Mike Patton in this sequence, and the playing is fluid and forceful, the vocals spitting as immersive guitars pull you under the surface. The melodies rush as Olson and Maucere merge voices, the pace burning and sizzling, giving the final visions a sense of finality for a journey ended.
“Clandestine Transcendence” stretches far beyond this plane of existence in impressive and expansive fashion, making for Lord Dying’s most comprehensive record to date. Those who demand their early days of all sludge might need to adjust, but open-minded listeners are in for one hell of an adventure with the Dreamer and this band that obviously is capable of so much more. I need to spend more time with this record for full immersion and understanding, but luckily that’s an excursion I’ll be happy to take to a realm I hope to not visit for a little while longer.
For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/LordDying
To buy the album, go here: https://mnrkheavy.com/collections/lord-dying
Or here (Europe): https://mnrkheavy.eu/collections/lord-dying
For more on the label, go here: https://mnrkheavy.com/
Meat Mead Metal 