Façade are a doom band from the Netherlands and this is their debut album.

Although you could probably label this band as death/doom, Façade are a lot more nuanced than a lot of death/doom bands, and the music on Loathe is an advanced-level exploration of mood, substance, and engaging content.

The music is essentially a mix of post-metal and doom, set upon by a singer with ferocious screams and deep, ragged growls. It works a treat.

While the music of Loathe is textured, atmospheric, and seductively emotive, the vocals are harsh, brutal, and unsubtle. This juxtaposition makes for some very enjoyable tunes, although it should be noted that it isn’t a complete contrast, as the music also has its own heaviness.

Yes, there’s more than enough crushing distortion on Loathe to keep people happy, but as the band have three guitarists it’s apparent from the very start that there’s a lot more going on during the songs than just this.

Post-metal reflective lightness and softer melodies work alongside the heavier parts to produce layered music that offers a lot of depth for the listener to engage with. This allows for songs that have a highly emotive quality; even when the heavy guitars are unleashed this remains true.

Various strains of dirge-like funeral doom can be heard across the release too, adding yet another bleakly emotive side to the band’s music.

Loathe is a highly accomplished piece of work, one which very much has its own distinct personality and style. I like this a lot, and the band have hugely impressed me.

Very highly recommended.