There’s a lot of black metal. A LOT of it. So much so that it’s hard to retain even a fraction of it in my brain. That’s a tiny little problem, honestly, when there is so much weighing down on us every day, but it does become a little tricky when seeking out what’s going to stick with me. A band sounding like it fucking means it is a start.
That takes us to Pennsylvania-based black metal force Dumal, whose new and third record “The Trials of Existence” is a 52-minute battering ram to your face and body. The band’s precision and commitment to black metal that maims is evident from the start and existed on their first two albums. But after a six-year absence, the band—vocalist/bassist Adam Siatkowski, guitarist Andrew Dorflinger, drummer/keyboardist/guitarist Evan Williams—sets fires and pours gasoline over these menacing eight track, dropping hammers, knives, and all sort of dangerous plunder on you to make you feel the tension.
“Cyrillic” tears open, melodies storming right away, battering with great energy and fire. The ferocity goes full tilt, crushing heavily and adding colors, infernal chaos spilling through the cracks, blazing to a mauling end. “Ivyland” hammers with riffs as the power rumbles, washing through your bloodstream, the energy jolting with guitars stampeding. The leads bring an endless attack, driving with profuse force, the playing slowly washing away. “Rendered Impotent by Glass” is heavy and smoke filled, howls torching flesh, electricity driving through veins, the guitars marring before pulling back. The tension gathers as steely madness engulfs, the playing gushes, and the force stings, burning into dust. “The Alberta Cost” is punchy, screams belting, melodies boiling and increasing the temperature, a relentless assault breaking through the gates. The leads take over and flex, howls snarl, and everything bleeds heavily, trudging to a massive end.
“Mine to Destroy” trudges with nasty howls and charred pathway, the aura darkening, speed taking over as the howls lash flesh. The pace bustles as the drums destroy, the bass pops, and screams blister, leaving everything in a pit of destruction. “Malaise” is an instrumental piece, clean guitars reflecting, keys icing veins, and everything slowly melting into oblivion. “Silver Exposure” runs 10 minutes, and it starts with a rupturing pace and vocals slashing, guitars slicing into flesh. Riffs bubble over and the leads hypnotize, shifting further into darkness, rampaging and driving nails into hands. Melodies trickle as desolate tones work into your bones, and everything melts into a bloody stream. “Praise Him” closes, crushing as melodies rocket and hulking as howls snarl. The electricity gusts, barreling with colorful, hellish horizons, roars gushing as the energy increases, aggravating fires and slowly fading into oblivion.
“The Trials of Existence” is a battering ram of a record, proving Dumal still froth at the mouth with black metal chaos and can make you feel every bit of their vitriol. This is massive and thick, putting you through the ringer and making you feel like you’ve been in a battle by the time the album ends. It’s nice when black metal can feel dangerous and unforgiving, and that’s exactly what you get with this beast.
For more on the band, go here: https://www.instagram.com/dumal_666/
To buy the album, go here: https://www.alteseelen.com/shop/alteseelen/p/pre-order-dumal-the-trials-of-existence
Or here: https://www.bolverkcollective.com/dumal
Or here: https://ampwall.com/a/deathsculptedpros/merch/dsp002-dumal-the-trials-of-existence-cassette-w-o-card
For more on the label, go here: https://www.alteseelen.com/
And here: https://ampwall.com/a/deathsculptedpros
Meat Mead Metal 