Assumption - Paradox of the Arrow

Assumption is a death/doom metal band from Italy, who formed in 2011.  Their latest album, “Paradox of the Arrow,” is their third full length album.  

I’ve been a fan for a minute and have always been impressed how the band manages to be atmospheric while also relentlessly heavy.   “Paradox of the Arrow,” doesn’t change their sound so much as it completely tightens it up and refines.  This is the album they were always going to make and it’s also the one I wanted them to make as well.  Across a six song, 41-minute runtime, the band presents all the elements of their sound in a way that exudes confidence as they stare into the abyss—and invites us, the listener, along with it.  

As you stare into the abyss, it stares back.  In that respect, “Paradox of the Arrow,” is a challenging listen because it, well, demands much of the listener.  Of course, the band has never played a style geared towards the mainstream.  This is a special kind of darkness meant for special listeners.  Is that you?  Perhaps, perhaps not.  But for those who can tackle something like this, a rewarding experience awaits those willing to dive into the darkness.

The melody within the songs is standout.  This isn’t a Gothenburg style, an epic folk feel, or Gothic dour.  This type of melody is otherworldly, more of an ambience that makes many of the passages cold, distant and alien while also keeping them extreme and dangerous; it works for the band because it allows the album to have all these different dynamics.  

The production and mix are another highlight—the bass is a constant banger, whether paired with crushing grooves alongside the guitars or becoming spacey during the psychedelic passages. The vocals are placed perfectly, without taking over the other instruments but sounding immense themselves.

Clean tones work as effectively as the distorted ones on this album.  The opening of the title track is a prime example.  The patience the song has in revealing itself is nerve wrecking, such the way these tones make the atmosphere maddening.    The riffs sound even more potent, arriving after such an intro and their effectiveness is obvious.    As the song progresses, clean notes mingle with the intense ones, forming a dual force that is gripping.

I like the flow of the songs, particularly with how seamlessly between tempos.  “Tombs Upon the Sun,” goes from a funeral doom style intro, to rumbling riffs, then back down to a doom crawl near the end.  There isn’t one ounce of intensity lost during the exchange, either.  The solo is pretty sweet too and a total mind fuck.

The album ends with “Vrykolakes,” and, for me personally, it is the epitome of not only the album but the band’s overall sound in general.  If someone was inquiring about wanting to get into Assumption and asked for suggestions, this would be the go-to song.   The melodic passages are balanced throughout the song so it doesn't settle on any one element too long, yet everything makes sense together.

After spending time with this album, “Paradox of the Arrow” has grown to become my favorite album so far from Assumption.  This is an intelligent album with a lot of depth, but it never forgets to doom the right way.  It offers more than your standard doom while also being exactly what the genre should be. 

Rating: Excellent