Dawn of Ashes dissects pain on its new album.
Titled Anatomy of Suffering, it is the twelfth release from the project led by Kristof Bathory since 2001, and is being released via Metropolis Records.
We begin with the already very oppressive atmosphere of Throat Woven With Thorns, the opening track that takes its time to establish its darkness and introduce a sampled vocal before becoming much more aggressive, blending energetic machines with Kristof’s morbid roars. There’s an interesting contrast between the most majestic keyboards and the vocal parts, but the violent coexistence is perfectly handled, just as on title track Anatomy Of Suffering which grants us a moment of respite before returning to its massive industrial tones. The sound remains thick yet catchy throughout, rooted in anxiety as the vocals return to haunt us, then shifts toward a slightly more playful tone on The Altar Of Sunken Wounds, contrasting ever more sharply with the darkness that seizes our minds through the electronic sounds. The musician allows himself a moment to pause before launching the assault again with Viral Decay, a far more virulent and energetic composition that skillfully blends the most danceable influences with ambient tension (special mention for that choking noise), while Echoes of Desolation strikes a softer, almost melancholic note, acting as a sort of soothing interlude. We then welcome Erica Dunham (Unter Null) for Autopsy of A Spirit, another highly haunting track that offers more varied nuances, some of which are quite dreamy, followed by Johan Van Roy (Suicide Commando) on Penumbra, a rather mysterious composition. The electronic touches effortlessly capture and torment our minds, rendering us almost apathetic under their assaults, while Beneath Thy Tongue, It Sleeps returns to an energetic and motivating rhythm that will have us nodding our heads almost constantly to the man’s vociferations. Although a bit longer and featuring moments of hesitation, Threading the Nerve follows a similar pattern, placing its far more motivating beats between two layers of softness and progressing at times slowly, as in that martial finale that fades away and leads us to Autolysis, where the musician invites Void Stasis and BlakMoth for a final creation that is far stranger and more mysterious, flirting with Dark Ambient and intoxicating us one last time before finally leaving us in silence.
Dawn of Ashes has sometimes changed form, but with Anatomy of Suffering demonstrates that its return to its roots is a reality. Anxiety, aggression, darkness, and Industrial tones definitely go very well together.
90/100
