Review: Dead Existence – Endless Misery

Genre: Sludge / Doom / Stoner / Hard Core / Crust / Metal
It seems the doom and gloom has been spreading over London since 2004, in the form of Dead Existence whose 22 letter word to describe themselves is none other than “EEEUUUURRRRGGGGHHHHHHH!” and although in one sense it does sum the band up pretty well, but not in the negative sense, it is more a positive one as the music is powerfully bleak and primitive in its sludge, doom kind of way!

The unembellished ‘Consumed’ is a towering inferno of grim and blighted riffs with scathing vocal encounter. However, the power that exudes from its muscular body – (not to mention Jake’s) is one of extreme dismal pleasure, for which all sludge/doom heads will understand.

Low toned guitar and bass are prevalent here as the track ‘End devoured by Beginning’ looms large. With clockwork precision its long strides of mesmeric melancholy fights off tempered and woeful rhythms that bite hard and backed up by a powerful vocal onslaught.

‘…’ Say’s it all really! – this is an instrumental of despondent riffs and eerie noises that prowl around the senses and pokes a bony finger in the eye of the disbeliever! So cold it is virtually glacial.

Plucked from an obscure dimension is ‘Worthless’ that drags its forlorn carcass into a dim light of gloomy madness. It weaves in a meticulous manner and creates a perfect doom laden path that begs to be followed.

‘Tear apart the Veil’ There is nothing that would stand in the way of this track as the forceful malignance breathes its dark and fearsome gloom into the sagging veins of the weary! Its sinister guise leaves one in a state of intrigue, as it continues on its way the thunderous strength twists into a mournful chasm.

‘Obsidian Black’ is probably the only track that pummels some fearsome energy into its addictive veins with a thick texture of malignant grooving and strong deep riff’s that actually excite in a disconcerting way of course – this isn’t sludge/doom for nothing!

‘Delusion of Hope’ is a track that breeds anticipation – it’s still a very strong contender for doom but this time it shows a different side to its character. Still eerie, still sinister but that haunting note that trickles through-out amid an echoing of simulated voices and vibrating noise is sheer genius, it conjures up evil images in its sullen mode of play and another superb offering from the band.

‘Regretamine’ is perhaps one of the bands weaker tracks, and I am pretty surprised they left this one until the end. Although it does have its moments of utter neurosis and has an unusual name, but for me it hasn’t ticked all the boxes this time but after listening to Delusion of Hope I feel thoroughly spoiled. Perhaps Regretamine will grow on me after a few listens, but the rest of this album is filled to the brim with ‘endless misery’ of the very best apocalyptical and emotional kind!

Dead Existence ‘Endless Misery’ is out via Black Bow Records in April 2015.