(Dark Descent Records/Me Saco Un Ojo Records)
Rating: 8.0
Denmark doomy deathsters Phrenelith have slowly and slimily been making a name for themselves in the grimy underground, here on album number three hopping over to the mighty Dark Descent, a suitable home for their sound.
“Noemata” actually sets the tone nicely as a lumbering instrumental opening, and “Astral Larvae” grinds through the swamps with an admirable Immo thump. “A Husk Wrung Dry” feels dry indeed, the slap of the snare just dried mud on mud as this band takes on a journey through this atmospheric, slimey DM. “Nebulae”, meanwhile, showcases some great riffing and songwriting know-how, an absolute rager of an earworm.
“Sphageion” is another fantastic moody piece, a great mix of weirdo and otherworldly to bring in the final couple of songs, the last of which is the epic closing title track, a 10-minute exploration of all that is great about modern doom-laden, sludgey death metal.
2024 had tons of great oozy DM releases that reminded us all of how far the genre can take the listener, even when it’s getting pretty primitive, and Phrenelith are ensuring that trend continues on into 2025 with this awesome album.
Release date: February 7th, 2025
Source: bravewords.com
