Album Review: Distant – Tsukuyomi: The Origin (Century Media)

In honour of their 10-year anniversary as a band Distant present ‘Tsukuyomi: The Origin’, an expanded and revitalised version of their debut EP, ‘Tsukuyomi’. This release features seven brand new tracks alongside six revamped versions of songs, weaving a comprehensive tale that predates Tyrannt’s conquest through the universe.

Not only does it delve into Distant’s origins, but it also expands on the lore. This isn’t a standard remaster or simple rerecording, but the band overhauling the original songs to reflect their current sound and vision, ensuring the tracks get the attention they deserve.

Tsukuyomi: The Origin will be released on November 22nd, 2024, on several different formats and via Century Media.

The idea of looking backwards, especially with the momentum that Distant have had for the past few years, wouldn’t normally be something I’d encourage. However, when a band is going to such lengths to showcase their past, update aspects, and reveal even more story layers to their incredible lore, it’s impossible to not support this kind of release. Distant have gone above and beyond here, making this a must-listen for all fans, but also serving as a brilliant introductory piece to who they are and what they offer.

Which, if you’re brand-new to this band, is a cacophony of brutalising deathcore and slam. All wrapped up in this incredible conceptual world of Tyrannotophia and the dark stories around it. Tsukuyomi is a pivotal figure in the “The Heritage” and “The Rise of Tyrannotophia” sagas, so takes centre stage in this prequel.

Bloody exciting stuff, right? It’s so rare for a band of this ilk to go this hard on a concept, especially ones that encapsulates the whole band and not just a singular album. Yet, that is just one faucet of Distant that has resulted in them being immeasurably successful so far. Come for the stories and lore but stay for the carnage that their music creates.

So savage, so intense, so heavy, and so damn addictive, for years and across countless releases, Distant have smashed skulls, torn flesh from bones, and rendered souls from bodies. This expertise, all they have learned, is what they take back with them to Tsukuyomi: The Origin, transforming it into a more palatable listen that no longer feels like the tentative steps of a band, but rather its origins.

Funny that.

This isn’t a removal of the past though, and Distant have respectfully found a balance between replacing what they did and updating what did. Even the most hardcore of fans will find themselves more than happy with their approach here. Especially as even more weight is added to the release by the inclusion of several stellar guests.

Namely, Trivium’s Matthew K. Heafy on the gargantuan Torturous Symphony, Despised Icon’s Alex Erian on the blistering Acolytes of Damnation, Enterprise Earth’s Travis Worlandv on the meaty and atmospheric-laden Tsukuyomi, and Signs of the Swarm’s David Simonich on darkly violent Malice. Each adds a lot, standing out as a unique guest, and helping Distant sound even more dangerous. Although they hardly need much help in that department, not when they’re releasing monstrous albums like this. Fan or not, you must listen to this record.

Distant – Tsukuyomi: The Origin Track Listing:

1. The Pale Moonlight
2. Fleshweaver
3. Feast of Misery
4. Torturous Symphony (feat. Matthew K. Heafy)
5. Cradled in Shards of Glass
6. Loveless Suffering
7. The Undying
8. The Apex
9. Acolytes of Damnation (feat. Alex Erian of Despised Icon)
10. Tsukuyomi (feat. Travis Worland of Enterprise Earth)
11. Malice (feat. David Simonich of Signs of the Swarm)
12. Broken Cross

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