DAYOFWRATH — And The World Will Perish In Flames

Composed of four tracks and just over eighteen minutes, And The World Will Perish In Flames makes the most of its time, moving deliberately with their message of darkness and apocalypse, utilizing blackened textures and vocals to tinge their industrial ritual with doom and dread. Focusing more on an almost hypnotic approach, the drums beat with a pulse that brings the listener in, rather than blasting heavily to summon something even deeper. Opening with vile vocals, "Voidhanger" quickly turns on the machinery, bringing the album headlong into the blackened factory that is DAYOFWRATH. Somewhere in the unexpected junction between industrial, black metal, and dark ambient, the cacophonous layers meld together, abuzz with distorted vocals, mid paced drum machine beats, and creepy, black metal riffing. Echoes add to both the factory inferno and ritualistic cavern feelings, building atmosphere quickly and effectively, making "Voidhanger" a perfect opening track. Allowing itself a bit longer of a build time, "Imperfection and Oblivion" opens up the sound a bit more, opting for shouting at the night sky instead of a subterranean sacrifice. Giving vibes that are akin to early 2010's Skullflower, the guitar riffs blend into the distortion, sounding almost like harsh drones, but giving the piece more area with less effort. "The Warrior's Pilgrimage" moves the furthest from the darkness, with its electronic bass and drums chugging forth, like the crest of a boat crashing through the waves. The subtle oscillation of the rhythm, its ups and downs, and lilting quality add to the marine vibe, carrying the guitar and vocals on through their terror tour. And The World Will Perish In Flames fittingly ends with "Death To The World," a grim and distorted sound for a grim and distorted vision. This closer feels the closest to metal, with its riffs and structure, but still strongly industrial in tone and characteristics. A fitting end to the quick and rough journey, "Death To The World" wraps the album nicely, bringing together the previous three songs and finalizing their trajectories.

 

Four years isn't a very long time for a tape to languish out of print before being rescued, but we can be glad that Cyclic Law moved quickly with And The World Will Perish In Flames' resurrection. Available in a CD edition of 300, the 4 panel Digipak is a big upgrade for those with the cassette and a great surprise for those of us that weren't lucky enough to score the original. Naturally, it's available digitally for anyone that misses out again, but those looking for something grim, dark, and different should seek this one out.