HOWLS OF EBB — Cursus Impasse: The Pendlomic Vows (review)

HOWLS OF EBB — Cursus Impasse: The Pendlomic Vows album cover Album · 2016 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Cursus Impasse: The Pendlomic Vows" is the second full-length studio album by US, California based death metal act Howls of Ebb. The album was released through I, Voidhanger Records in April 2016. It´s the successor to "Vigils of the 3rd Eye" from 2014, although the two albums are bridged by the "The Marrow Veil" EP from 2015.

The music style on the album is an abstract/avant-garde technical death metal style, which is pretty much a continuation of the music style introduced on Howls of Ebb´s debut album. Dissonance, dark nightmarish psychedelia, organic creative drumming, and a general disregard for regular songwriting. The vocals are predominantly aggressive growling but the vocals are often layered with other forms of extreme metal vocal styles. The dissonant riffs sometimes remind me of the riff style of the Australians in Portal, but "Cursus Impasse: The Pendlomic Vows" is not quite as brutal or suffocating in atmosphere as Portal´s output.

The sound production is organic, raw, and feels a little unpolished, although the production choices and instrument tones are obviously conscious choices. It reminds me a bit of the most odd sounding Defiled albums. Although I´d still place Howls of Ebb in the death metal camp, "Cursus Impasse: The Pendlomic Vows" isn´t an album loaded with regular death metal brutality or heavy downtuned riffs. This is definitely something quite different from the norm. Upon conclusion it´s an interesting listen, but I´m not sure I enjoy it much in terms of listening pleasure. It´s almost too odd and experimental and as a result lacks power and impact. But to those who want to hear an alternate take on what death metal can be, this may be down their alley. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
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