This is the second album from Irish doom/sludge band Soothsayer.
The Unbinding follows on from 2016’s At this Great Depth and 2021’s Echoes of the Earth, heralding the return of the bone-shaking Soothsayer. Across five colossal songs Soothsayer showcase a sound that’s developed, while also retaining what made them so good in the first place.
Soothsayer’s blend of doom and sludge is well-judged. With elements of crust, an increase in blackened venom, and a touch of folk inspiration, it makes for a vicious, crushing way to spend 45 minutes.
The songs are expressive and well-crafted. Each one offers a multifaceted immersion that’s best embraced over time in order to fully appreciate Soothsayer’s skills. All of the band put in good performances across the songs, but the singer should be especially noted. It sounds as if Soothsayer have about five different vocalists, but that’s not the case; the singer’s voice is versatile, filled with feeling, and passionately delivered.
The Unbinding is raw and unfettered, waging a war against the light unrestricted by compromise or mercy. The songs offer a glimpse into a world of violent conflict and oppressive atmosphere, of harsh struggle and earned catharsis. The band channel emotion and sonic force into songs that explore the approaching apocalyptic darkness, fearless and resolute. The Unbinding is a record that’s relentlessly grim, yet contains just enough shards of hope to offer the promise of salvation, no matter how far out of reach.
The Unbinding is Soothsayer’s crowning achievement so far. Everything has come together to produce a perfect storm of satisfying blackened sludgy doom. The drums hit harder, the melodies are deeper, the vocals more heartfelt. The prominent black metal influence shrouds the music in bleaker, sinister atmospheres, while walls of crust and sludge are built ever higher.
Soothsayer’s new record is an enjoyable one, and has the potential to be a hit with fans of a diverse number of bands, such as Altar of Plagues, Fall of Efrafa, Lightless, Neurosis, and Primordial. The Unbinding is a potent force, so make sure you give it the time it deserves, before its darkness spreads and encompasses the world.
Wonderbox Metal 