Umbersound - Tracks from the Slither

Umbersound is a one-man doom metal band from Staten Island, New York City, New York, featuring musician Joe D'Angelo (guitarist for Grey Skies Fallen) on vocals and all the instruments.  The latest release, “Tracks from the Slither,” is the project’s third full-length album; two EPs have also been released. 

I reviewed the previous album, “If the Flies Could Sing,” and gave it good marks but “Tracks from the Slither,” is just as good and maybe even better.  This album continues Joe’s brand of doom that is a little more traditional than what he does in Grey Skies Fallen but no less heavy.  The atmosphere of this album is pretty fucking sinister—-it almost seems horrific, in a way.  Regardless, this is a very dark album with some unnerving moments.

What’s interesting about this album is that it almost feels like two different ones.  I find the first half of the album to offer a more direct sound while the last five songs are more atmospheric in tone.   Joe’s vocals have improved as well—studding performance throughout.  But the MVP of the album has to be the guitar and bass tones—-absolutely crushing and almost maddening in their potency.  The drums are good too, complementing the songs and highlighting the best parts while providing a hammering performance of their own.  

The album opens with the banging title track.  It is explosive with a weighty riff dropping like a ton of rocks and drums kicking the chaos off.  The vocals are one-part emotive singing and another part expressive shouting.  This is actually a pretty catchy song and a fantastic way to begin the album.  The second of the song is low and slow, the notes sinking into the ground like quicksand pulling in a body.

The drums and throbbing of the bass pulled me immediately into “Foundations of Strife.”  The guitar harmonies add just the right flavor of dimension to the riffs.  The vocals are very good here, rising above the heaviness to add a dash of epic metal to the structure.  Some of the album’s groovier and crushing riffs arrive afterwards and ride the song out until the chorus repeats a final time.  

“It Still Breathes,” has a sense of urgency in the beginning before the riffs steamroll themselves in.  Joe sings his ass on this song, his powerful tones cutting through the dense music and foggy atmosphere. The last minute or so of the song is the highlight with the groovy riffs becoming hypnotic in their destruction.

The second half of the album is a bit different, as I mentioned.  “Shifting Tides,” has a more laid-back feel to it and the lead guitar has a slightly stoner vibe mixed with melodic tinges.  The vocal patterns are catchy, and I like how the music is heavy but not aggressive—this is like rising waters that gets more dangerous as the seconds tick by—subtle but ever present in its ability to destroy. 

“The Gnawing,” is an instrumental that throws in unique instrumentation but a vibe that is increasingly filled with trepidation and paranoia.  This song flows well and envelops the senses with a depth that is surprising. 

The final song, “The Loops Closes,” closes the album down in a much lighter way with clean instrumentation that’s both intricate and ethereal.  It matches the tone of the rest of the songs even if it is a departure, but it makes sense as the closing track.

“Tracks from the Slither,” is yet another impressive album from Umbersound because it offers a varied and dynamic take on the doom genre with interesting songs that remain cohesive as a whole. 

Rating: Excellent