DYSSEBEIA play what could be described as progressive blackened death metal. When the word "prog" pops up in a band's description, a lot of people assume the worst. Is it going to be pretentious? Will it have lots of overstuffed filler that only matters to the band? Will the album be too long, one song stretched across six full-lengths, an EP, short story and a three season tv show that was cut short and ended on a cliff hanger?
Joking aside, DYSSEBEIA don't have any of that. This eight track album has a tight run time of 43 minutes, the band making the most of it. There isn't any note or passage on these songs that doesn't need to be there and there is nothing the listener needs to skip. The song structures aren't hindered by conventional means but they still make sense within context of the album.
The album twists and turns as it moves along. The ever evolving songs feature variations of often gorgeous melodies, ever changing riffs that move effortlessly from genre to genre, and evolving vocal patterns paired with rhythmic shifts. Despite all that, despite the earful of features crammed into it, this album still remains firmly grounded in extreme metal. It going to make you think and wonder about what's around the next musical bend but it's also going to smash in your stupid face while doing so.
The journey begins with 'Mors Tua, Vita Mea' and its deep but clean tones. They build up perfectly into a distorted beast in under a minute. A flourish of melodic notes ride the edge of the riffs as the song grows more involved, speeding up the tempo as well. I love that scream/growl that pieces the atmosphere while those groovy riffs flow about.
The solo is surprisingly soaring and emotive but I have to mention how commanding the bass and drums are, holding it all down while helping to steer this very stalwart ship.
'Moon Bearer,' roars to go from the first half second---those riffs are damn fine and can't believe how smooth such extreme music is. The biggest factor in determining how well anything under the prog banner does is how smooth the many moving parts can work together and if the flow stays consistent. 'Moon Bearer' is a fine example of just great the songwriting is, how well the band can adapt on the fly while still remaining super focused.
'Hatch' is one of my favorites on the album. It is a very moody track with a downtrodden atmosphere and that change in the dynamic really keeps the album fresh five tracks in. The tragedy of the song is strong but engaging, the band always keeping their foot on the gas with ideas ready to burst forth but still committed to give each available second the attention it deserves.
The tempo speeds up in places but the spaces in between feature deep slabs of bass and the right amount of melody.
The final song, 'Apophenia,' is groovy as fuck and presents itself as a straight up death metal track. With that being said, it still features plenty of nooks and crannies that combine to hooks that keep it an earworm despite the extreme path it takes in the beginning.
Around the 3:11 mark, it goes quiet for a moment as if to quickly erase its past only to reinvent itself as something much more melodic. The next minute and a half is beautiful and freeing but the past is never forgotten even after the band looks forward. The song returns to its more violent roots and finishes itself, and the album, on the highest of highs.
With 'Garden of Stillborn Idols,' DYSSEBEIA have crafted a wonderful album full of so many amazing details. Despite including everything and the kitchen sink, this isn't an album that overwhelms but instead pulls the listener along for the ride. Fans of death, black, and prog will find much to enjoy here but even if a person doesn't like one or more of those genres, then this is a beast of an album that will change the mind.
9/10
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