Thursday 23 January 2014

ALASKAN - Despair, Erosion, Loss - Album Review

Despair, Erosion, Loss cover art

Alaskan is an Atmospheric Sludge/Post-Metal Band from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

The members are:

Gary - Guitar/Vocals
Scotty - Drums
Cory - Bass/Vocals

It will be an understatement to say that I am a fan of Alaskan. I am a HUGE fan of this brilliant band as I have featured them on the blog about 4 times now. 


So yeah I have been following these guys for quite a while. But nothing could prepare for their new album - Despair, Erosion, Loss - A brutal as fuck masterpiece that runs for a brisk 33 minutes or so. But don't let the brief running time put you off. Alaskan are masters of writing intricate Sludge Metal Riffs that will destroy your world and leave you an emotional wreck.

First track - Sacrifice - is a 5:12 minute track that shows that Alaskan have lost none of their hard-hitting magic as this song is a beautifully written and sometimes tragic song of how fucked up the human race can actually be at times. Alaskan combine dangerous riffs with bleak vocals to match which make Sacrifice possibly one of the finest and emotional tracks that Alaskan have written.

Second track - Fiend - carries on the nightmarish world that Alaskan laid down previously. It's a 7:33 minute musical odyssey that will leave you battered and bruised as the guys once again lay brutal post-metal riffs that will have you thinking for a very long time indeed. It may start off at a mid-tempo pace but give it time before Alaskan unleash hell on earth with some of the heaviest music of their career.

Alaskan have always been one of the loudest Sludge/Post-Metal bands around but nothing can prepare you for this. Alaskan have delivered a defining statement on the world around them. There are no easy answers on this album. Gary and Cory are immense on vocals breathing life into every note they shout their hearts out to.

If you thought the last Neurosis album and masterpiece was angry, wait till you hear this. Tracks such as Inferno, Submerged and Guiltless show Alaskan have released one of the loudest and angriest records in years. The album is rooted in darkness and it never loses sight of that. There maybe a few glimmers of hope with some uplifting riffs here and there but Alaskan always return to the darker side of life. It's where Alaskan thrive the most by playing loud, angry and dangerous riffs that will have you begging for more.

Credit must goto Topon Das (Fuck The Facts, Merdarahta) who is back on production duties once again. Topon has said this is the productions he is most proud of. And I agree as Alaskan have never sounded as good as this. I am a huge fan of Topon's musical work but he has outdone himself here on this album. Production is amazing. All I can say.

Despair, Erosion, Loss is Alaskan's most daring and defining work to date. It's an album they should rightly be proud of. Alaskan are one of the finest Sludge/Post-Metal bands the scene has to offer at the moment. 

Canada - You did it again. And I fuckin Thank You For - Alaskan.

Incredible. End Of.

Despair, Erosion, Loss is available to buy from BandCamp Buy Now Download. So headover there and download this brilliant album now. Make a donation if you're feeling generous.

Oorders for Despair, Erosion, Loss are now available at both Alerta Antifascista Records and Moment of Collapse Records

Heavy printed gatefold outer sleeve
Heavy printed insert
180 gram vinyl
200x yellow/brown vinyl
200x black/white vinyl
600x black vinyl

Check The Band From Links Below

Facebook
BandCamp
Twitter