As you might already know, we are big fans of Konvent over here at Heavy Blog. The reason we are boils down to one simple facts: no one wields death-doom quite like them. With one leg in the realms of melodic, grandiose doom, and one leg in the murkier, more guttural sounds of death metal, Konvent deliver a combo that doesn't quite sounds like anything else. It's a street down from SubRosa and just across the lane from Temple of Void. But it always sounds like its own thing and Firesky is no different. The album sees the band take a bit of a step back; while the core sound is just as crushing as ever, it is not quite so suffocating. The longer tracks feature acoustic guitars, open, atmospheric passages, and even some black metal. The result is a more challenging album than any of their releases thus far, more complex and expansive.
We should start, where else, with "Exorcise", the first track. It's also probably my favorite because it exemplifies everything I just described. It opens with classic Konvent fare, namely meaty, aggressive riffs and percussion backing up the vocals of maven Rikke Emilie List, one of the finest growlers in our scene. But the center of the track is dominated by a haunting acoustic guitar which bridges between the two parts of the track. As it crescendos it reminded me of Opeth and I was fully expecting the return of the crushing, original riff. But instead, the climactic outro of the track is where those black metal influences kick in. The drums tattoo a blast beat, the guitars approach tremolo speeds, and the whole thing just exudes coldness and melancholic melody.
I can't even begin to tell you how pleased I was to hear this. There is something so powerful about the more flighty, chromatic sound when paired with Konvent's tried and true sound. The contrast, of course, is what makes it work; the two parts set each other off, the heavy segments hitting all that harder for the delicate, fragile, icy sounds they are later paired with. The album even goes deeper into those melodic segments later on, diving close to DSBM territory in the bleakness of its sound. Because of that, something very interesting happens: the death-doom part of the sound, which you (and I) would before associate with darkness, defeat, suffocation, etc. suddenly becomes the bright and uplifting part of the sound!
Said otherwise, Firesky is very aptly named. It is an album which has both a bright, burning fury, presented via the band's excellent command of the punishing, feedback laden, heavy doom riff but also a star-spiked, chilling expanse of dark sky. As mentioned above, it makes for Konvent's most complex album to date, an affair which hits you hard emotionally but also invites relistens and contemplation. Konvent were already a phenomenal band but Firesky proves they have not just rage and explosive power but longevity. I can't wait to see where they take their music next.
Firesky releases today, Friday the 6th of November, on the omnipotent Napalm Records. Do yourself a favor and get lost in it soon.