Album Review: Faal – Desolate Grief (Ván Records)

Founded in 2005 with the aim to create doom mixed with black/death metal along with touches of post-rock, Desolate Grief is the third album from Faal. Due to be released on the 26th January 2018 via Ván Records.

Desolate Grief might only be 5 tracks long but it comes in at around 44 minutes. That’s 44 minutes of gloriously dark & despondent doom. Played out alongside harmonious melody that adds an extra layer of thick grief to proceedings.

With all but the intro coming in at nearly/over 10 minutes long, Desolate Grief wants to leave an impression. One that is introspective & enlightening as well as being crushingly heavy.

Leaning way more towards the doom side of things, No Silence is an incredibly heavy effort that pulls you along in its current. What initially feels comforting, you’ll quickly feel your muscles begin to ache & suddenly you’ll be struggling to stay afloat as No Silence’s waves doomy waves wash over you.

Not content with throwing out deep & booming darkness, Faal also serve up some meaty slabs of post-rock style moments too. Evoking Emotions is a track with a title that describes its effect perfectly. Impressively sombre rhythm combines with Faal’s understanding of doom to create an effectively beautiful & thought-provoking song.

When combined, the results are just as thrilling. Grief’s effective slow style pours a high amount of gloom on top of an already morose affair. The longer it goes on, the slower & heavier the beat seems to become before it erupts in a final brief flash of fury. While The Horizon is an exciting & very lengthy trip through everything Faal are good at.

Flying by in a blur of doomy riffs, melodic hooks & dark harmonies,Desolate Grief is an impressive release. One that hits the right notes for fans of doom, black & post-rock.

Faal – Desolate Grief Full Track Listing:

1. Intro
2. Grief
3. No Silence
4. Evoking Emotions
5. The Horizon

You can pick up Faal’s music via Bandcamp & find out more about them via their website & Facebook Page.