@kvn@midwest.social was nice enough to suggest this album when I said I wanted something a little different for Halloween. This for sure hit the spot. Instead of my usual post in here, I will set the scene and tell the story of me listening to this album. If you don't care about my story but are curious about my overall opinion, just skip to the bottom. I'll separate the story from the rest of the post.
I dropped my youngest son off at soccer practice last night. It was windy, the sun had just fallen behind the trees and it was ever so slightly drizzling. I don't want to go watch practice in the mild rain so instead of putting on my headphones I turned on the Bluetooth, drove to a separate, empty portion of the park and turned on the album.
It starts off well. Intro sets the scene and Nothing is Safe is a damn good track. It is a little spooky and the high pitch piano repeating in the background of the beat is giving me "Michael Myers Theme Song" vibes, which is exactly what I want the night before Halloween.
Right around the time He Dead comes on it is officially "dark". The clouds are eating the light that would normally filter in through the trees for the next 20ish minutes. The song starts with the low droning and some other noises and the guy goes "they want to take your body" and....I won't say I was scared, but I am not too proud to admit that I was a little spooked. The song goes on and the organ builds in the background and at this point I'm officially locked in.
I'm feeling good still, Haunting (interlude) plays and then it goes to La Mala Ordina. Man, fuck this song. The silence/crackling from the last track leading in to it already has be vaguely on edge. The horror movie soundtrack-esque start leading in to him rapping about body parts works perfectly. Then the song starts to break down and cuts to just static/noise at 3:50. Now, under normal circumstances, I would probably remember that @kvn@midwest.social mentioned that this album has "elements of noise and industrial". But I'm a bit of a wuss and it is dark and windy and ever so slightly raining and I'm pretty confident some kind of demon is getting ready to come kill me, so that doesn't cross my mind. But I'm a wuss, not a coward, so I wait it out. The noise cuts and Club Down comes on. Thank God, it was part of the album and not Satan trying to come for me through the speakers.
I'll skip a few tracks here because it is generally more of me being vaguely spooked and enjoying the experience. Shout out to Run for Your Life, probably my second favorite track overall.
Possession (interlude) comes on and sadly takes me out of it a little bit. It was too goofy. That said, I'm still in my car. In the dark. In the woods. In the dark. With the wind and rain. So when All in Your Head comes on I am sucked right back in. When the spooky lady came in "bow your head and repeat what is said. Lead us away from every temptation," and slowly had noise overtake her voice, I loved it.
Skipping to the end of Story 7, as the song slows down. The guy is borderline chanting "Cynthia...." and then it cuts. I sit in silence. In the car. In the dark. in the woods. With the wind and rain. and Attunement starts and I'm back watching for demons as the track screeches at me. It doesn't last long but it is long enough to stress my already frazzled nerves. Unfortunately, instead of relief I get spooky-ass rapping. I feel like I can see this man watching my from outside my car as he raps in near monotone.
Finally I reach the last track, Piano Burning. 18 minutes of the sound of, presumably, a piano burning. I sat in the dark and listened to the whole thing, and honestly it was a relief. I spent so long being assaulted by sounds and sudden static and general spookiness that it was very calming, almost cathartic. I was able to release the stress I had built up over the past hour and change. I drove back to the populated part of the park and waited for my kid to wrap up practice, then drove home listening to something upbeat that he would enjoy.
This album was an experience. Sitting in a dimly lit card while it is almost pitch black outside, surrounded by trees, was a better experience. Compared to my listen in the comfort of my office chair this morning, I think that it may have been the perfect listening environment. I think this is an album that is better if you are a little uncomfortable. It isn't uncommon for me to check my phone sometimes when listening to an album, but I really recommend finding some time alone and in the dark to listen to this album, it really does enhance it. The more willing you are to let yourself be spooked, to give up on trying to seem tough or laughing it off in your head, the more I think you will enjoy this album. As an experience, it is a solid 10/10 for me. Even taking away the experience and just looking at it as an album, I really liked it and it is like an 8/10.
I also didn't mention it in the story but Blood of the Fang was my favorite track on this album. This isn't an album that has songs that would be a traditional "single", but this track stands up on its own as well as within the context of the album. I think that is extra impressive on this sort of project, which is meant to be listened to as a whole. Would massively recommend.
I really hope everybody enjoyed this as much as I did.