Monday 7 May 2012

Rise Above Dead - 'Stellar Filth' (Album Review)

 By: Aaron Pickford

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 26/6/2012
Label: Shove Records,
Monument of Collapse Records,
Forever True Records




‘The album is a superb juxtaposition of brutality and ambience.  It is ruthless and unrelenting, then mind altering and psychedelic.  It leaves you with feelings of extreme euphoria, and seemingly having had a distorted sensory experience.  The album is a hallucinogenic aural assault.’


‘Stellar Filth’ DD//LP track Listing

1). Hide and Weep (8:40)
2). No Land Towards The Sea (5:32)
3). Bury Them In Dust (7:14)
4). Stellar Filth (6:40)
5). Light Release (7:26)
6). End Of A Kingdom (6:30)
7). A Thousand Thorns (5:55)


Rise Above Dead is

Stefano Bigoni | Guitars
Matteo Sala | Guitars
Diego Leone | Bass
Andrea  Rondanini | Vocals
Luca Riommi | Drums

The Review:

I first became aware of this band, after their guitarist Matteo Sala contacted me via facebook asking if I would be interested in reviewing their new album, Stellar Filth.’ Matteo described his band as a mix of sludge/post metal and psychedelia, for fans of Neurosis, Cult of Luna and Amenra.  So, what do I make of this album, following those comparisons?  Well, the name of the album is ‘Stellar Filth’ and it couldn’t be a more appropriate title, because this record is just that, Stellar Filth!  It sounds outstanding! Immense!  Or whatever adjective you wish to use.  What’s more it is obscenely heavy with grimy riffs and a hint of interstellar ambience. 

We kick things off with ‘Hide and Weep’ and Rise Above Dead set the tone for this album beautifully.  What we have is a monumental slab of Post metal dirge; it is a fantastic mixture of thinking man’s metal, demonstrating the band’s ability to flex their muscle with weighty riffs, harsh vocals and atmospherics.  The album is a superb juxtaposition of brutality and ambience.  It is ruthless and unrelenting, then mind altering and psychedelic.  It leaves you with feelings of extreme euphoria, and seemingly having had a distorted sensory experience.  The album is a hallucinogenic aural assault. 

The album continues in a similar vein throughout, slow clean guitars only to be superseded by colossal sludgy riffs, the magnitude of which is truly exceptional. The band is note perfect throughout, with smatterings of bass, ambience, intricate drum fills and a continuous onslaught of bass heavy guitar artillery, monolithic in proportion and rendering the listener speechless.  Album highlights such as ‘Bury Them In Dust’ and ‘Stellar Filth’, owe much to the sound of Neurosis as it does to Yob, such is the devastation of noise which ensues, these tracks in particular are just massive!  Sonically the album leaves you feeling overwhelmed and lays waste to all that stands in its path.  This album is caustic in the most effective way possible and yet another must have album for 2012. 

‘Stellar Filth’ is available here

 
 
 
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