8th May, 2024
Bleakness Of Eris
'The Rotten Galaxy'
I googled what the city of Uppsala would look like and I got beautiful architecture, picturesque rivers and sunsets but little did I know that from the darkest depths would rise Bleakness Of Eris with their first proper full length album 'The Rotten Galaxy'.
Masterminded by the enigmatic Sammy Spaceman, this one-man metal machine has been wreaking sonic havoc since rebranding from 'Corrosion' in early 2023. Spaceman’s journey from Swedish death metal to the unapologetically brutal death metal is laden with growls, grinds, slams and the occasional celestial despair.
Prepare your necks folks, because there's a high percentage chance it will snap at various points when listening to this album (You've been warned now!) So buckle up and crank the volume to the max as this album promises a relentless ride into the dreaded cosmic abyss!
Have a listen while you read ->
The album opens with '0: …And Its Name Shall Be Z,' a track that introduces listeners to the heroine Z, with a musical backdrop so sinister it could make a haunted house seem cozy.
Z, a galactic wanderer charged with the slight overreach of annihilating the galaxy, is our guide through this concept album that tackles the cheeriest of themes: existential obliteration. Who wouldn't crack a huge blistering smile at that?
Well the music definitely should as “II: Child Of Destiny” is essentially a mosh pit in audio form — short, absolutely vicious, and leaving you wondering what just hit you whether it's the relentless pounding of the drums or the battle drone type riffs that beat you into submission.
This sets you up nicely for one of the best tracks on the album, the thunderous 'III: Sulphuric Seed' that truly captures the essence of the album. Here, the drums pound with the fury of a thousand suns going supernova, while guitars wail as if lamenting their impending doom.
The vocals do well here combining great guttural lows and shape shifting highs that elevate the track at the right times. The only personal preference I would have is to have the bass drum more of a thud than a clicky sound as the programming can stand out and take me out of the album at times.
We are already midway through the album and with tracks like 'IV: The Rotten Galaxy I: Noisnemid Orez', Bleakness of Eris offers something new to the table, a deceptive calm, a mere eye in the storm, before plunging listeners back into chaos with 'V: The Rotten Galaxy II: Yxalag Nettor Eht.'
I'd actually like to hear how they could expand on tracks like 'Noisnemid Orez' and maybe incorporate the brutal metal aspects to create something unique instead of having it as a standalone 'instrumental' prelude to the next track.
On the other hand, 'Yxalag Nettor Eht', this track doesn’t just break the mold — it smashes it with the force of a collapsing star. There is a cool section towards the end of the song with a solid bass line with some background synth and drum march type atmosphere where I was left wanting more to see where that could have gone. I think there is great potential here that could be tapped into.
And we actually do get a bit of this with the intro riffage to 'VI: The Rotten Galaxy III: Abyss,' is where Z’s fate is sealed, the climax of the album where your speakers start to question your life choices. I was expecting an all-out audio assault at the end, the kind that leaves a ringing in your ears
but instead the track fades away into nothingness which feeds into the concept album narrative very well but in terms of the listener, probably wanted to go out guns blazing.
Wrapping up with 'VII: Invisible Sun,” a cover of The Police, offers an almost ironic twist of tranquility, standing in stark contrast to the ending track before it. It's like enjoying a blood soaked cup of tea after surviving a universe ending hurricane — unexpected, but oddly fitting.
Best way to support a band is through bandcamp so head on over
and check 'em out on there ->
In conclusion, 'The Rotten Galaxy' is a cataclysmic odyssey encapsulated in an album. Bleakness of Eris promises and delivers a cosmic rollercoaster, powered by the guttural growls of Thomas Blanc and the masterful manipulation of every instrument known to the metal gods.
It’s a brutal, bizarre, and bewildering journey through space, time, and the boundaries of death metal. At times this album is not just music, it's a relentless meteor shower from hell, heading in your direction. Maybe keep a helmet handy. Prepare your ears for annihilation folks!
