A Dead Poem is a blackened doom metal band from Brazil, who formed in 2023. “Abstract Existence” is their debut full-length; they released an EP in 2023.
This is a very striking debut and it sounds like it comes from a band who has been around much longer than they have. Clearly, the duo of lead guitarist/bassist Marlon and Vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist/drummer Be Misanthropic have a firm grasp on the vision of this album. This effectively combines doom, Gothic, and blackened elements into one broad, harrowing sound of dire melancholic madness.
The production must be praised. It’s raw and bleak, it’s menacing tendrils wrapping around each note and instrument of these songs and pulling it into its void. It’s the perfect atmosphere for the songs which combine a subtle form of aggression, low-key danger, and stark gloominess. Overall, it sounds quite abrasive yet it’s open enough to let the many dismal melodies and sorrowful passages find a clear path through the utter darkness.
The band isn’t afraid to embrace faster tempos, allowing its black metal influences to come out from the edges of insanity without overtaking the doom. If anything, it perfectly compliments by becoming one with it. There are several instances of quieter moments, where clean notes dance among the liminal spaces. In these moments, the band’s lights shine as strongly (or in this came, dimly) as the heavier moments.
The vocals are freighting, a brutal form of blackened screams and growls that are about as gentle as having your face shaved with sandpaper. There is just enough echo on the back end without going overboard. It’s the only vocal style that will work here and it sounds great while matching the music, so no complaints.
Despite the macabre lyrics and abrasive style, the album flows very smoothly. It doesn’t hurt that the runtime is perfect with 7 songs at just over 38 minutes long. The album glides through quickly, allowing many reasons for repeated listens without fatigue setting in.
The album opens with the gripping song, “In Forgotten Dimensions.” Like being pulled into the unknown cavernous crevices of a cave, the melodies grabbed me and thrust me into the thick of it. The drums sound so damn good too—loud and full, complimenting each part of the song with urgency. The blackened vocals float through the air like a restless spirit—it all sounds truly analog, as if the band was playing right next to me. Invest in a good pair of headphones for this album and you’ll become one with this nightmare. Around the 2:15 mark, an interesting atmospheric ambience falls like water drops from a stalactite , dripping down into the details of song and reforming a new beast.
“Before the Rising Sun,” adds a surprising fast paced groove that kicks the song with a bang just before the tempo slows down to a crawl. At this point, growls scrape the bottom of its cage of muck, pulling up with it all the unspeakable things that crawl in the dark. The melodies are striking but compliment the darkened doom—this isn’t Gothenburg melodies. The song is peppered with guitar leads that fill in the gaps, adding another layer to this already towering monstrosity.
“Obedience,” is a Gothic embrace that reminds me of a much more extreme version of something Paradise Lost might do. I love the contrast between the guitar melodies and the double bass because, despite their differences, they compliment each other and work for the song. Around the 3:58 mark, the riffs hammer out some of the best moments on the album–and the drums crash around them with abandon.
The final song is “Silent Tears Fall,” and it’s as mournful as a funeral within just seconds. I love the ambient textures—they meld so goddamn well with the blackened doom carnage. After that passage, the band rocks out like some kind of jam band from hell before another ethereal passage arrives. This one is a little mysterious and disturbing but I’m right here for it, especially because it leads into a kick ass guitar solo and a tight drum performance.
A Dead Poem’s “Abstract Existence,” is a fantastic blackened death/doom album with a impeccable vision that includes Gothic and melodic elements that balance perfectly with the desolate leanings of the album’s dark odyssey.
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