Blighted Eye is an extreme metal band from Seattle, Washington. They formed in 2019 and released their debut EP the following year. Their new release, “Agony's Bespoke” is their debut full-length.
Their members come from an impressive background, to say the least. Bassist Ben and guitarist/vocalist Kyle are from progressive/tech death band Aethereus. Guitarist Christopher (ex-Terra Morta) and drummer John (Mesmur, Pantheist) round out the rest of the band.
“Agony's Bespoke” has a huge sound that covers a wide variety of styles. Black, death and large does melodic textures find a place within the albums 1 hour runtime. Even elements of doom and prog ate integrated. You could think of the album as a jack of trades but instead of being a master of none…it absolutely nails everything.
Some might scoff at such a runtime but it certainly doesn’t feel like an hour. In fact, each song is filled with so many hooks that the album glides on thru with ease. So despite its length, this is one of those albums that you’ll want to replay over and over.
The album sways back and forth through a variety of moods, displaying both light and dark atmospheres through the use of clean instrumentation mixed with heavier elements. Each song is dynamic with a lot of moving parts but it doesn’t seem hurried or rushed. I like to think of each one as its own little world residing in a bigger universe.
The album opens with “Tragoedia,” which perfectly captures the essence and overall feel of the album. The clean guitar and subtle keys make for a detailed, lush composition that still leaves breathing room for the drums and bass to slowly ramp up the tension. The vocals are a mixture of growls, screams, and even wonderfully executed cleans. Both the instrumental aspect and the vocals play off each other, each one allowing plenty of moments for the others to build within its world. The result is a cohesive song that’s melodic when needed but uses more extreme avenues to push the song forward.
The use of tempo is yet another piece of this tapestry that is used to great potential. On “In Enmity,” the guitars settle in for a balance groove while the drums stick to a faster tempo. Then the guitar solo arrives, complementing both speeds before it all comes together for a mid paced romp with tight riffs and growls. The song speeds up as it goes along, the guitars and bass offering a sterling attack. In the later half, atmospheric textures arrive as the song growls into a lush, expansive ending.
All this mixing of styles doesn’t mean the band doesn't spend time focusing on a particular one when needed. “A Feast For Worms,” lets their black metal side loose, a venomous attack that is one of the more intense moments on the album. I like the drums a lot here, very atmospheric which is always impressive to do on such an instrument.
“Nightingales,” is a short but surprisingly moving interlude that offers a respite before it melds into the next song, “A Reverent Stillness.” The gentle synth work paired with the insane vocals is a contrast that works for itself, rather than against. The first part of the song is subtle, low key atmospheric riffs that steadily build up before all hell breaks loose. The galloping riffs in the mid section are catchy as hell and also set the song up to head back to its atmospheric approach.
Last, but certainly not least, is the ending title track. It’s just over 11 minutes and it has become my favorite song on the album because there are just so many great parts to enjoy. The follkish beginning is a nice little detail, as is the brief ambient section around the 1:27 mark. It’s the extra care and crafting of these small effective moments that becomes the glue holding the song together.
My favorite part of the song has to be the hectic and abrasive midsection and the quiet, introspective movement that arrives afterwards. The two styles couldn’t be more different but yet they work together in context of the song.
Blighted Eye’s “Agony’s Bespoke” is an impressive display of songwriting. It changes direction and mixes styles in a smooth, intelligent way that makes it seem like a living, breathing creature. A highly impressive album that won’t soon be forgotten.
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