Dusk Dissolve Into Ash

Wisconsin, US-based doom-death masters Dusk‘s new album, Dissolve Into Ash, is now available to stream online. It is the band’s first full-length album in 28 years, following on from the debut “…Majestic Thou in Ruin” which was originally released in 1995.

Dissolve Into Ash will be available on CD via Dark Symphonies/The Crypt Vinyl and on tape via Dread Records from 18 December 2023. The vinyl versions (Black, Cloudy & Smoke LPs) will be available from 4th March 2024. The release will be distributed through Dark Descent Records. The album was produced by David Pietila at SourceTrack Studio.  

Opening track ‘Beacon Obscured’ was previously released as a single with a video release.

Dusk vocalist and bassist Steve Crane, said of it: “‘Beacon Obscured‘ embraces the entire inspiration for the release. The song opens with a doom-laden intercessory moan that encompasses the full desolation of mankind, then progresses toward a hauntingly original rendition of ‘Dies Irae’ performed by Dana Ignarski.   

“In the video, our female vocalist, Dana, performing ‘Dies Irae’ symbolically embodies an extension of creation – dwelling, waiting. During this performance, she is telling the trees, flowers and butterflies that the day of wrath is coming. That day will dissolve the world in ashes.

“By the end, there is a reprise in which Dana is crying out a lament at the thought of complete destruction of everything living, beautiful and pure. This vocalisation finishes the video with an almost intercessory cry, knowing this impending doom.” 

You can check out the video here at RAMzine.

“The other tracks feature raw and brutal vocals mixed that seem to have found new life. Musically this album contains the obvious death/doom riffs, and progresses to some slight black metal influences,” Crane continued. 

“The band worked tirelessly to try to make the sound as massive as possible without sounding overproduced. Dusk also tried to stay true to their old school death doom roots, since not having recorded a full length since 1995, and at the same time ushering in a new modern version of the band. Fans of old school and new fans who never heard of Dusk should be pleased with the result.”

Dusk tried to stay true to their old-school death-doom roots, since not having recorded a full-length since 1995, and at the same time ushering in a new modern version of the band. It’s said that “fans of old school and new fans who never heard of Dusk should be pleased with the result”.

Regarding the background of the new album, the band commented: “Birthed out of the covid pandemic, the inspiration of the material for this release was an overall sadness. The purpose of this album is to somehow musically equate the overall demise of mankind; an almost apocalyptic/end days atmosphere. The title Dissolve Into Ash was derived from the aforementioned ancient Latin funeral dirge entitled ‘Dies Irae’.  

“The section of the chant focused on is translated into English as: ‘The day of wrath, 
that day will dissolve the world in ashes, how great will be the quaking when the judge is about to come’.

“This verse contains the overall feeling of being overwhelmed by this life and the mental torment that exists during these times. This is the darkest album that Dusk has ever recorded. Exploring the deepest depressive depths of the soul.”

Pre-orders for the CD and vinyl version can be placed now via Dark Symphonies/The Crypt Vinyl and tape pre-orders via Dread Records. You can stream it here.

Since reforming in 2015, the band has released a compilation Dusk…Majestic Thou in Ruin (2015, Dark Symphonies) and an EP Withdraw (2018, Dark Symphonies).