Downfall Of Gaia - Silhouettes Of Disgust (2023)

It has been a while since we heard from Downfall of Gaia and their uniquely devastating mixture of Atmospheric Black/Post-Black Metal with some Crust and Sludge elements. With “Silhouettes of Disgust” the band marks their return and they are thirsty for blood. Featuring 45 minutes and eight tracks of crushing music, the band creates a very hectic and demoralizing atmosphere with waves of punishing riffs, blistering drumming, and hellish vocals.

Opening with the powerful and melodic “Existence Of Awe”, the band sets on a crushing path with their signature Atmospheric nature alongside crafty aggression. The Punkish drumming of the opener and “The Whir of Flies” nicely gives that Euro Crust vibe, while perfectly blending in with the more traditional Black Metal elements. We particularly enjoy the band’s relentless tempo changes as they weave between high-octane sections to more introspective and melancholic passages.

As one of the most diverse and engaging pieces in this release, “While Bloodsprings Become Rivers” is our favorite track, thanks to its moody and cathartic nature. On the more experimental/Post-Black Metal side of things, “Bodies As Driftwood” is a lush piece of cold atmospherics and a throbbing bass guitar line. Leveraging female vocals, courtesy of Lulu Black, on the chilling “Eyes to Burning Skies”, the band showcases how easily they can switch gears while still retaining their ravishing aggression.

Closing with “Unredeemable” and “Optograms of Disgust”, the band leaves on a high note while showcasing their full arsenal in two excellent tracks. While it is hard to pin down exactly who the band sounds like, we can venture to say they are a mixture of Ancst, Anomalie, with some Dodecahedron sprinkled in the mix. If you like relentless aggression, punkish drumming, and tons of atmosphere and mood swings, this is certainly the release for you.

Label: Metal Blade Records

Release: March 17th, 2023

Genre: Symphonic Metal

Country: Germany