It’s the top of the world as we all know it, and I really feel high quality—no due to you creeps. Sometimes I’m capable of finding solace from a world on hearth by fleeing to the aegis of the Promo Pit and the commiseration of my scribe brethren, however this place is a jail, and these individuals aren’t my buddies. There’s been an excessive amount of disruption of normalcy, too many individuals making too many issues and never sufficient like to go round for everybody in Ye Olde Promo Sump, so I carried out busted out and gone rogue, yo. What do you do when you get out of jail? I wished to have some enjoyable, and twas enjoyable that I discovered, certainly. I discovered Dawn of Ouroboros out strolling after midnight by means of the Bandcamp grounds, and whereas I’ll have in the end been hauled again to my offended steel jail in a most silverback-ed and unceremonious style, you’ll be able to guess your sorry ass that I managed to smuggle the Californians’ debut again with me. You’re welcome.

Brevity dictates The Art of Morphology be categorized as ‘progressive blackened demise steel,’ however that tells us nothing and fuck that, anyway. True to its personal identify, The Art of Morphology is an ever-shifting factor, using the stylistic units of a number of subgenres but by no means adopting the mantle of anybody specifically. Be it the surprising lurch into thunderous chuggy rumblings that follows the in any other case clear and dreamy intro of “Pinnacle Induced Vertigo,” the transition from the melodic but deathy outro of “Sorrow’s Eclipse” into the epic progressive black steel of nearer “The Valiant Abscond” or just the intensely dichotomous magnificence/beast nature of the vocals, it’s clear that selection is the spice ov Dawn of Ouroboros’ life. Fortunately these sonic seasonings are utilized with the regular hand one would possibly count on of a extra, effectively, seasoned act; The Art of Morphology bounces round usually sufficient as to elude instant succinct categorization, however by no means on the value of the music, and nearly at all times to the profit of the music. Nearly.

I say ‘nearly’ all cliff-hanging and ominously as a result of I don’t care about your emotions; Dawn of Ouroboros make no missteps of their frequent directional adjustments, at the least to not my velvety ears. The success of that is owed largely to an historical idea, by which it was hypothesized {that a} diminished presence of a given pressure may, in actual fact, change into a higher presence at instances: generally much less is extra, and Dawn of Ouroboros know this effectively. Issues shift regularly, sure, however by no means in jarringly drastic or else blatantly gimmicky methods. When “Lunar Cathexis” drops its shimmering, folky pretext to unveil a blackened demise furnace at its core, it’s as pure because the frequent lapses from flighty prog into pummeling demise steel which transpire wthin “Sorrow’s Eclipse,” and each different such instance of genrestlessness discovered on The Art of Morphology. Such moments largely adhere to the established scales and pacings of the previous materials, permitting the sudden adjustments to really feel natural and cozy. What’s extra, these moments don’t overstay their welcome and lapse into gimmickdom; Dawn of Ouroboros don’t attempt for the multifaceted cacophony of Igorrr or Corpo-Mente, they only don’t thoughts portray with multiple shade or medium.

Regardless of being completely impressed with this debut effort, I’d be remiss to not deal with some minor criticisms that my whole enjoyment of The Art of Morphology is nonetheless unable to negate. First of all, Chelsea Murphy’s clear singing is, considerably sadly, the closest factor to a weak spot that this album has. Her efficiency is hardly incompetent and even subpar, it’s extra simply kinda there, arbitrary and executed sufficiently but with out the instant ardour – not to mention the flawless supply – of her harsh vocals, that are trvly monstrous to the purpose of defying Muppety description. This, of course, segues properly to my second criticism: Chelsea Murphy has raised the bar for feminine harsh vocals so excessive that I really feel unhealthy for her contemporaries, and I don’t notably admire being tricked into empathy. Lastly, Morphology being however a debut, I can’t dive mindlessly into an ocean of Ouroboric choices, and that simply pisses me off.

So far as I’m involved, The Art of Morphology has in the end taught me that crime pays. Persist with the herd and also you get Enzo, shitty nü-steel and a entrance row seat to 4.0ldeneye‘s joyful steel man time. Break away out of your restraints and you’ll seize the likes ov Dawn of Ouroboros, Malist, RÛR; break away out of your restraints, and you’ll seize greatness. The Art of Morphology is well essentially the most promising debut full-size that I’ve heard since Unsettling Whispers, and it was price each HR sanctioned lashing simply to catch a glimpse of this fledgling beast out within the superb, superb wild. There’s at all times room for progress, notably amongst Murphy’s clear vocals, however Dawn of Ouroboros have impressed the Hell proper outta me and I completely can’t wait to listen to no matter they’ve bought in retailer for us down the highway.

Score: 3.5/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Naturmacht Productions
Web sites: Dawnofouroboros.bandcamp.com | Fb.com/dawnofouroboros
Releases Worldwide: March 30th, 2020