This came to me on high recommendation from a close friend who I know only tells me to listen to stuff I am gonna really dig (apart from that one incident involving Weezer – but we won’t go there). As I embarked upon my first foray into the sickly world of Ethereal Tomb on this, their third album, I knew I had 25 extremely enjoyable minutes ahead of me.
Hailing from the major urban centres of South Canada, this three piece seem to have an ability to create something that sounds somewhat interesting in a genre filled with the greatest, yet sometimes similar, sonic overload. Their use of time signatures and dynamics, led wholly by the ever-present vocal espousing from main man Alexander Senum, gives this record a kind of innovative feel – even though no one is doing anything vastly unusual. It’s just how and when they do things, or don’t do something, that gives this a pattern that feels fresh.
I think bands like Chained To The Bottom Of The Ocean are the most comparable when listening to the first few tracks, including the sensational ‘Living To Dream Again’ and the harrowing ‘Abandon Suffering’ (as all good Buddhists should). However, as ‘Death of an Indian’ explodes and sends debris flying everywhere – including right into the open mouth of the following track ‘Hate Begotten of Hate’, I realise that these guys have a whole plethora of heft that they have been cunningly holding back. Guitars become buzzsaw and the feel becomes a very modern take on bands like Obituary and Entombed.
Overall, this is a wrecking ball of a release – and furthermore a wrecking ball that is hanging on a shitty bit of rope. There is nothing pleasant about it, or that can come from it. The out of time gang vocals in ‘Unbecoming’ sum that up – to be able to sound like a drunk Anselmo and still nail completely nail it is quite a skill. Bring it on.
Best Paired With: A Petrol Bomb, Living In Your Mum’s Basement and Standing On The Bonnet Of A Speeding Vehicle.
Reviewed By Jaff.
Ethereal Tomb – Living To Dream Again is out now on Bat Skull Records.
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