Genre: Post-Black Metal
Country: United States
Post-black metal can be pretty hit or miss. A lot of the times, I find many bands to be pretty unbalanced, either leaning too heavily on the "post" elements, or not using them enough, rendering them ineffective. Verwustung is one-man band based in California that has nailed this dichotomy time and again. He's released quite few things over the years (which you can find for free, here) but Beyond The Watercolor Sunset, We Feel New Life is in my opinion, his best. Before I even get to the music, have to say I just love the optimism of the title, and the stark simplicity of that gorgeous album cover. I'm glad to say the music behind it all, is just as gorgeous. In one 29 minute monolith of a track, Verwustung takes your breath away with this atmospheric masterpiece. If Hvis Lyset Tar Oss-era Burzum and Godspeed! You Black Emperor had a baby, it would most certainly sound like this; that description in itself should be enough to convince you to check this out. Drenched in noisy euphoria, the track slowly builds, tension in every guitar strum until it just EXPLODES into a full-blown black metal cacophony. This is where that balance comes into play. There's enough tremolo picking, blast beats and necrotic vocals to satisfy any extreme metal listener, but melodically it has all the heartwarming beauty of post-rock. The length of the song may seem daunting, but it is a surprisingly easy listen, and oftentimes I feel like the track is actually a little too brief. It's a testament to just how well crafted and dynamic the song is. Recommended.
