Album Review: Torii – Torii (Self Released)

Apocalyptic black/death metal project Torii returns after three years of silence with a new, self-titled album. The album sees Torii reverting back to its original form as a solo-project, masterminded by multi-instrumentalist Bill Masino.

With Torii, Masino continues the journey into the depths of post metal and death/doom with a stronger focus on atmosphere. The album is set for release on December 17th, 2021.

The perfect accompaniment to the winter months, Torii’s new album is a dark and cold affair. The blustery wind that buffets you as trudge through the depressing night after a long and tiresome day.

The blackened post ring of The Second Renaissance makes each step feel heavier than the last. The guttural growling vocals assault the mind with images of doom and the melodious parts make things feel all the more fatiguing. Synthetic Dust is a longer and more expansive effort that really trawls the depths of doom. The darkness isn’t just creeping in, it’s pouring and consuming everything it touches.

Persephone continues the misery but in more melodramatic fashion as it’s a near 5-minute piece of melody. Dominated by soft guitar tones and an eerie, but emotive violin. You can say this for sure, you never really know what you’re getting with Torii but it does have an effect.

Case in point, Eurydice has the melody from the previous track start things off but then Torii reveals itself to be a devil in disguise. Grabbing you roughly and dragging you deep into the bowels of hell with a doom epic that will have you quivering in fear.

Rage intensifying, Grey Expanse is meatier and more discombobulating as it shifts tempos and changes tone several times across its 8+ minute runtime. Before Void has you drifting through nothingness with atmospheric melody and Inertia looks to haunt your dreams with uncomfortable swings in coldness and torrents of heavier intensity.

The title track is the end of this perilous journey though and Torii make sure to it ends in an icy and gloom-filled way. Where a slow build creates a sense of dread but it doesn’t go in the direction you expect. Instead, becoming more peaceful at first before the tempo increases and Torii unleash a torrent of hellishness upon all who remain in their vicinity.

Torii – Torii Full Track Listing:

1. The Second Renaissance
2. Synthetic Dust
3. Persephone
4. Eurydice
5. Grey Expanse
6. Void
7. Inertia
8. Torii

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