Moss — Sub Templum
Starting things off nicely dark and atmospheric we have Ritus which is built around a rising Hammond Organ drone, whispered vocals, slight guitar buzz and ominous percussion elements. But it’s not long before the first glorious weighted and crushing slow riff monster that is Subterraen enters. This is as heavy as anything off their first album- yet there’s a harmonic blues tone to part of the riff’s down stroke, as well as the vocals been noticeable less pained and almost properly sang at moments, there’s also a much clearer production all round but this doesn’t take away from the heaviness- it more shows it in a different demonic light. Subterraen finishers it’s slow sonic tread at just shy of the 25 minute mark.
Next we have the track Dragged to the roots which seems to notch the sound down again once more, like slowing descents on the pathway to hell. The harmonic edge and slightly brighter tones of the first track have been snubbed out and the riff circles round and round you in prime evil wonder. The vocals have become more pained, crawled and ragged too and altogether there's a much more suffocating air and feel to the track. This track comes in at a relatively short at the near 10 minute mark.
Then we’re into the last long pained decent into the pit that is Gate III: Devils from the outer dark which comes in at torturous and unforgiving 35 minutes. To begin with it barely starts as long held safocating guitar hits enter like been engulfed in the chocking breath of the beast it’s self. Soon it forms into a pained and shambling pace as the shoulder bowing riffs descend & some spoken texts are added over the top. Over the next half an hour or so of the track Moss pull you down father and father into the boiling endless darkness of hell- you keep thinking they cant make it sound anymore heavy, pained and bleak ,but they just keep dragging you down and down.
An impressive follow up to their blacked and unforgiving debut album, which finds the band polishing their production, adding new elements like the Hammond organ and clear vocals. But at no time does it feel any less devastating, unrelenting or bleak .A Seriously heavy weight blacked doom smothering of the highest order