Feeling eternal darkness in your body and mind is not a rare commodity. In fact, about 720,000 globally choose to end their life annually, according to the WHO, so there are so many among us suffering and dealing with by sorrow. Being able to work your way out of that and find a different inner strength can mean control we wrest back.
Despite being a morbid, destructive black metal band, Dutch power Doodswens (whose name means death wish), seeks to stoke the flames of personal and mental strength, which powers their fiery new self-titled album. The band—vocalist/drummer I, guitarist P, bassist R (sorry that my site style broke up the RIP lineup)—isn’t trying to be warm and soft about this either. These songs are a flaming blade hoisted in the face of death, proving we can control our lives by fighting harder against that which seeks to destroy us.
“Driven by Death” opens with a voice warbling and then guitars driving, the playing lashing as it chars your flesh. Blistering screams piece as the leads spill, delirium and harshness hammering and fading. “Verrot” has guitars surging, wails crushing as speed becomes a factor, smearing into an atomic burst. The pace destroys before wrenching to a halt, igniting with ferocity for a final dash. “The Black Flame” enters amid echoing bells, then terrifying screams merge with the storm. Ferocity hits a tornadic level, black metal melodies flowing over, noise melting as melodies glimmer, dissolving into sound.
“These Wounds Never Healed” has slow-melting heat, howls scraping before the seams burst, with punishment doled out by feral forces. Guitars rain down as the melodies tremble, energy cresting and fading. “She Carries the Curse” opens with guitars draining, moody coldness thickening, howls wrenching as the atmosphere rumbles. Guitar bends send chills as everything cascades, and melodies glisten over a total assault. “Devils Stone” unloads with color, racing and bleeding, glorious black metal-style rivers gushing with intensity. Howls and shrieks smoke, the heat rising dangerously, blasting toward a heated end. Closer “Vlaamse Vloek” ravages, melodic madness tripling, strangling with spastic force, riffs bouncing and tearing, obliterating the senses.
Doodswens are tackling dark spirits, trying to find weaponry for a battle against death that controls so many people’s live. Their fiery, labyrinth-bent black metal stays in your system, rocketing through your mind and through your bloodstream as you gather strength. It’s a record that impacts more than just brutally and ignites your darkest senses to survive without fear.
For more on the band, go here: https://doodswensband.bandcamp.com/
To buy the album, go here: https://www.svartrecords.com/en/product/doodswens-doodswens/14147
For more on the label, go here: https://www.svartrecords.com/en
Meat Mead Metal 