Mizmor & Hell – Alluvion (Review)

This is a collaboration between Mizmor and Hell, both solo doom bands from the US.

Alluvion is a 40-minute blackened doom album that consists of four tracks, (two songs). It fuses the talents of both artists into a expressive whole that’s impressively wrought. Mizmor and Hell have produced a strong record, as you would hope given their past work.

Now this is heavy. The guitar sound is crushingly thick and meaty. The bass can be felt like a avalanche, and the drums underpin everything, ensuring it is maximised towards extreme heaviosity. Yum. Mizmor and Hell have constructed their soundscapes from simple components used very well. Guitars, bass, drums, and a variety of vocals; these tools are used by the artists to manufacture huge mountains of blackened doom that are overwhelmingly engaging.

Of course, if Alluvion was just about being heavy, it wouldn’t really stand up to close scrutiny for long. However, both artists pour a lot of emotion into the material, meaning that they combine heaviness with atmosphere and emotion. The end result is music that’s articulate and absorbing, with  a comprehensive worldbuilding born of passionate darkness. There’s not just heaviness here though, despite my ravings about it, but also light, introspection, and texture. Alluvion is well-rounded and has the scope and depth to be worth visiting again and again.

Yep, this is really good stuff. Mizmor and Hell have both put in some sterling work here, and Alluvion is a extremely enjoyable as a result. If you’re a fan of Mizmor or Hell, or other bands such as Bell Witch and Aerial Ruin, Body Void, CHRCH, Cult of Occult, Keeper, Khanate, Lycus, Old Witch, Primitive Man, Sea Bastard, Thou, and Usnea, then this is an essential listen.