There are videos all over the internet where you can watch people taking very dangerous chances in order to gain some kind of clout, only to fail spectacularly and pay the ultimate price. Sure, it’s sad seeing people spend their final moments in incredibly violent fashion, but it’s something that easily could have been avoided by, you know, not doing the thing that led to their demise.

Seeing life slip from one’s grasp is the main inspiration behind German black metal power Farsot’s new record “Life Promised Death,” one of their most varied creations to date. Over seven tracks and 51 minutes, the band—vocalist X.XIX, guitarists III.XXIII and I.XVI, bassist/keyboard player XX.VIII, drummer/percussionist XIX.XVII—does their most exploration yet, digging into the numerous means in which people and their lives can be separated. Some of these acts are ones of hubris, others are things that wear away at mental health, still others brought on by selfishness, making it seem like a deserved end.

“Nausea” opens in static, snarling before kicking into gear, throwing psychic punches as the shrieks crush your gaze. Keys glaze as clean singing enters the mix, the feeling heading into atmospheric range, vile howls landing before hitting its end point. “Buoyant Flames” is daring and tornadic, the vocals digging under fingernails, guitars racing and making blood pump. The singing coats with warmth, acoustics mix into the chaos, and a thrashy burst increases the drama. Keys drip as the howls sicken, going dreamy and rustic, settling amongst the stars. “Into Vertigo” starts with speaking swirling, then shrieks arriving with great weight, fantastical playing adding a gust of adrenaline. Sounds breeze even as fiery playing increases the heat, guitars glide, and the singing swells. The tempo surges as howls slice through bone, clean notes wash through the electricity, and everything slowly fades.

“Chimera” starts gently, the singing inviting the darkness before turning into shrieks, spacey jolts activating cells. The playing is airy and exciting, acoustics explode, and whispery words drizzle the ground, setting off to ghostly heights. “Stray Dogs” lights up with strong riffs and purposely monotone singing, progressive fires spreading as the voices warble. The pace trudges as throaty howls ignite, singing slinking in behind the carnage, giving off an essence that reminds of vintage Voivod, disappearing into noise. “Descent” permeates the senses, X.XIX wailing, “Why does this happen? What has happened to this place?” Growls retch as a vibrant pace lights up the sky, breezing into progressive waters, growing more propulsive by the second. Acoustics then lean in, washing away the dust. Closer “Lost Momentum” blasts open, growls marring, the calculated pace detaching you from reality. The playing soars and then trudges, howls scrape rust from the walls, the drums punishing your body. Sounds splatters as keys glimmer, the pressure building in your chest and brain, the final moments finally letting up and bringing rest.

“Life Promised Death” not only is a sobering statement on its own, but it thematically powers this record and makes the messages contained within even more powerful. Along the way, Farsot have grown as a unit and spread their progressive and avantgarde powers into their music that has grown in leaps and bounds. This likely is not a record you visit every day; it might be better for situational listening when your mind is aligned to our finite existence and you need a medium to get you into the proper mind frame.

For more on the band, go here: https://www.facebook.com/farsot.official

To buy the album, go here: http://lnk.spkr.media/life-promised-death

For more on the label, go here: https://us.prophecy.de/