For a minute there it almost felt like Usnea were going to be an also ran in the burgeoning early 2010's doom metal scene, the band had been quiet since their visionary 2014 release Random Cosmi Violence. I had sort of assumed they had broken up. How glad I was to be proven wrong, with their latest offering, the almighty Portals Into Futility rapidly developing the bands sound and showing us that they are far more than their roots might suggest. Powerful and melodic with swooping clean vocals and crushing minor key melodies this is a monster of a record.
Portals Into Futility regularly impresses with the incredible depth of the production. The songs here are colossal, shifting as mountains do, slowly but ominously, crushing the listener under waves of distortion and reminding us why this band came out to rave reviews in the first place. I think it's important to note though that there is something truly great about the musicianship on this record, Usnea have reached bold new heights, expanded what their band is capable of and once more risen up to craft a grandiose record that will ring across the sands of time, at least for those of us who search the underground for absolution.
When it comes right down to it, doom metal is a helluva thing, and though it might be fading right now to the razor sharp force that is modern death metal bands like Usnea will always exist to help us achieve what the kids call 'maximum sads'. Usnea have distilled all that makes evil and twisted doom metal great in order to aurally seduce the listener and keep us entranced as their colossal chords seep forward. Usnea have unleashed a veritable cosmic force here and you can't help but to fall in love once more.
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Title says UNsea, not Usnea.
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