Review Summary: More enjoyment than endurance to be found here.
If you’re even remotely familiar with Trvth’s more black metal-oriented discography, you already have a good idea of what
Endurance sounds like before you’ve even listened to the album. That’s not to say that Mike Smith’s started beating a dead horse or created a rehashed version of
Trvth Be Told, though. After almost a year of experimentation, it’s only suitable that he sticks with a style he’s versed in.
Endurance serves as a successful continuation of Trvth’s return to roots, and proves yet again that Smith is far from faltering.
Opening track “Flame” throws in some proggy keyboards alongside a slow, melodic mesh of guitars and drums, and “Organic Progressing Forests” even has a soft acoustic section about halfway through. Hell, “Closer To Life” manages to successfully combine an orchestral intro with a steady drum beat, and closer “Chasing Wolves” ramps up the prog influences to eleven with jammy solos from guitars and pianos. In addition to all that,
Endurance is an entirely instrumental album, so even those who weren’t big on Smith’s vocals can get into the music. The production is raw per the usual, and the titan track “Its Height” (no pun intended) stands out as the highlight of the album, with all of the best parts of Trvth’s formula coming together into one dreary, winding composition.
Ultimately,
Endurance is an appropriate title, because that’s exactly what Smith seems to be going for here. The music generally feels pained, almost as though there’s some sort of conflict taking place within the songs. Perhaps it could also represent how Mike Smith, through Trvth, endures and expresses his thoughts and ideas in an artistic format. Either that, or maybe it’s just meant to be a pretty kickass black metal album with some neat atmospheric elements. Either way,
Endurance may feel like a familiar experience, but in a fond, almost nostalgic sort of way.
