Duisternis - Relapse Into Submission

Duisternis is a one-man black metal band from Scotland.  The project's latest album, “Relapse Into Submission,” is its debut full-length album; an EP was also released earlier in the year.

The band’s name is Dutch for “darkness,” and I would say it’s a damn good name for the project.  “Relapse Into Submission,” is a very dark album, maybe one of the darkest I’ve heard this year in terms of atmosphere. 

The project has a very DIY feel to it and is just raw enough to capture the essence of the black metal genre.  However, it isn’t overly raw and this isn’t just another random black metal band.  Although it has many of the genre’s hallmarks, this is also an album that aims to do something different and stretch beyond its own boundaries.

It’s atmospheric but in a more subtle way, rather than an expansive and bombastic fashion.  There are elements of industrial music, specifically synths and eerie effects.  These elements are used very effectively and compliment the metal rather than take away from it.  Every note here is needed and it all comes together in service of the album’s overall sound.

I like how these different elements work together.  Sometimes the songs live in the liminal spaces in between the synths/effects but other times it’s all about the riffs and straight-up carnage.  The tempo echoes this—this album isn’t nonstop fas as fuck songs that go nowhere.  They are fast when needed and take a more introspective approach when it is called upon.  For a debut, it’s a surprisingly confident-sounding album.  “Relapse Into Submission,” knows exactly what it is, what it wants to do, and where it needs to go.  

It’s 8 song, 37 minute runtime is perfect—it has excellent flow from beginning to end and there isn’t a bad song on it. 

The album opens with “Seductive Addiction,” and its noise intro that builds up with clean, ambient tones.  It’s more than a little unnerving and sets the album up perfectly.  The sound bytes are a nice touch too.  Around the 1:14 mark, the band settles into a groove that sounds Gothic to me—it works, especially with the synths/effects in the background.  The blackened vocals arrive shortly after and as much as they contrast against the other elements, they still complement each other. 

That’s really the key here:  there isn’t one thing that could be removed from this album and it would still work.  Every element, no matter how different from each other they first appear, must be here to make it work. 

The tempo around the halfway mark is surprisingly catchy with it’s industrial-like beat that slides into a unique solo and killer rhythmic section. The song fades out as disturbing sounding as it began.  A great opening song!

“Decline of the Ages,” opens with the drums playing an offbeat but effective intro. This is a short, blistering song that’s just barely over the two and half mark.  However, a lot of ideas are squeezed inside it’s charred walls; every element of the band is presented. It’s as eerie/unnerving as it is vicious and uncompromising. 

“Darkest Desires,” fires right out of the gate with searing riffs that cut deep.  The vocals are so abrasive–the audio equivalent of vomiting up knives.  This song’s brutal atmosphere and caustic instrumentals are nearly alien, such is the uncommon fury.  The ending riffs around the 2:50 are MASSIVE as they plough through the effect laden landscape.  Goddam what a way to end a song! 

“Refrain From Mind,” is surprisingly gentle, what with it’s clean keyboard beginning.  But this false sense of security doesn’t last long—at the 32 second mark, a massive doom metal style riff suffocates everything.  This blanket of distortion is nearly palpable, especially when the double bass joins it. The vocals are chaotic and demonic–quite the performance.  The whole song has a “wall of sound” feel to it yet it’s distinctive enough to enjoy each element if you’re not brave enough to face the maelstrom all at once. 

The final song is “Crowned With Filth,” and it just might be my favorite on the album.  It’s really out there, in terms of just how against the grain it is.  This is a powerful example of black metal’s power but it’s also a fitting display for what this album is all about.  The synths in the background add a prenatural fury to the riffs and vocals—it’s almost surreal. 

Duisternis’ “Relapse Into Submission,” is an awesome late year surprise for me and the genre.  I know a lot of you have already made up your mind for your favorite black metal albums of the year but I’m tell you know, don’t publish those lists until you hear this beast.