Emptiness Soul - Three Days
Hailing from the land of Ivan Drago, multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Katharos has been busier than a dyke in a hardware store lately. In addition to his work in/as Epitaph of Life, Hyperborean Frost, and Post Traumatic Syndrome, he’s also managed to put out five Emptiness Soul full-lengths since 2010. Three Days is my first time hearing any of his tireless efforts, and I must say it’s impressive Depressive. I was actually surprised to learn of this one-man band’s Russian dissent. Not to say that fertile frozen soil hasn’t produced quality SDBM in the past (All the Cold certainly have their moments), but much of Katharos’ Black methodology —vocals/vocal patterns, song arrangement, solid lo-fi production— reminds me of the Grecian formula. While most bands of this ilk take their vocal inspiration from Burzum, Popeye, or a wounded Beagle, the delivery of this low growl often harks back to the oldest coffin spirits of Rotting Christ and Varathron. Granted, the growls on Three Days are a little lower —think Saturnus circa “Starres,” Depresy, or maybe Crematory’s heaviest moments— and the music far more morose and melodic in a Blackened Doomy sense. What’s equally surprising is that this is, in fact, one dude. These epic tracks are crafted fluently in a multi-layered fashion, as if they were the result of a unit of suffering souls. The suicidal guitar melodies that blanket nearly every nook and cranny of these five songs are often all-pro enough to recall Gothic-era Paradise Lost, Brave Murder Day-era Katatonia, and Lifelover. The jury’s still out on whether this is a drum machine or not, but I suppose if I can’t tell, it’s a moot point. Of course, no SDBM record is complete without its obscure-band-covering-even-more-obscure-band closer. Luckily this rendition of “I’d Like to Love You” by Radogor —ahh, the classics— is no stylistic divergence from the album’s brilliantly downcast meat. Some songs do feel a bit longer and more repetitive than others —a few questionable structures found on “Third Day - Dying Soul” in particular— and one might be able to detect a guitar hiccup or two, but overall, Emptiness Soul’s heavier take on absolutely heartbroken Black Metal is refreshing and no chore to get lost in. Play this for your suicidal friend. If he dies, he dies.
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