Review Summary: A promising beginning
For such a short release, Todesnot’s Malaise is truly an eclectic blend of influences. My first impression is of the monolithic melodic death metal influence on Circadian. The riffs on this song recall bands such as Hypocrite, but set to a far faster and more pummelling barrage of percussion. Condensed into this blast are Sigh like synthesizers, which succeed in breeding an altogether more menacing atmosphere than many bands of similar styles accomplish.
Of the two tracks, Circadian is the stronger, as it shows great potential for longer and more evolved compositions. The instrumental combinations I referred to above are quite unique and leave me wishing for a more dynamic, longer arrangement that fully evolves the dark air that seems to pervade it. Although this is far on the other end of the spectrum in terms of brevity, I can’t help but think of black metal bands like Melancolia in how these songs have the potential to make me feel.
Slowmind seems to fall into a similar trap, as it builds a sense of foreboding that is then lost by the pure bludgeoning force that follows it. However, as that passage abates, another slower and darker transition follows which is more in keeping with how the song began. Again, this song leaves me wishing for a fuller form that truly elaborates on the moods created.
Towards this end, a change in the tone of the vocals is something I would like to see. While the vocals on this release do not have anything inherently wrong with them, they don’t quite plunge into the deeper vocal ranges I wish they did. A certain amount of bleakness would seem a necessary compliment to the feelings evoked by the songs themselves, something the vocals here don’t quite reach.
Much promise is shown in the production of these two songs, and why they may fail to quite ascend the heights they may perhaps point to, the beginnings of a sound that could support a fully-fledged release are here. This is something many bands take much longer to do and for this they deserve praise.
