Album Review: Near Death Condition - Ascent from the Mundane
Reviewed by Sam Jones
Right away from when I first laid eyes on this record, I was smitten with the album artwork. The image of angels fleeing from another party having claimed some form of victory struck me immediately, what’s more is how this is Near Death Condition’s first album release in eight years. Formed originally as Yog-Sothoth in 1997, the band changed names in 2001 where they would eventually release their first studio record in 2004 titled Delusional Perception Of Reality. But it would be another seven years until their follow up record, followed by a third release down the line. So in a way, album releases by this band are something of an occasion which makes Ascent From The Mundane all the more fascinating to me; its my first exposure to Near Death Condition and it just so happens to be for a record following their longest ever gap between studio releases. You know when you can just look at a band or their members lineup, and just know its going to be something ruthless? I had those vibes with these guys and therefore couldn’t wait to dive right in.
The vocals are straight away a unique and identifiable part of the band’s identity if you ask me. This isn’t merely just another conventional death metal delivery, herein the vocals assume this pained and almost agonising texture where one can imagine the strain and anguish their frontman’s throat must be under to produce this performance. But then again, considering how the vocals are this nature for the full record, then it signifies how their frontman absolutely knows what he’s doing, can thoroughly take care of their throat and knows how he can use his cords to produce vocals quite differently to your standard death metal act. Trying to comprehend what is being said is out of the question, the vocals being this coagulating and croaking aesthetic that one could imagine gargling and bubbling in some demented miasma. While they’re harsh they’re not so strong on us that listening to them is uncomfortable nor are they a burden to carry as the record progresses, the mix has allowed for the vocals to reach their desired effect while never being such a harsh experience on audiences that we can’t enjoy them.
The riffs possess this bouncing aesthetic whereby it isn’t just some seamless stream of riff playing we’re met with. The guitar work has this crushing aesthetic to its tone but it’s never so strong that we can’t dive further into what the songwriting is offering us and therefore, the riffs take on this lively atmosphere and you can practically feel your head bob up and down throughout the various tracks. Solos blend into the songwriting extremely smoothly, where you’ll be enjoying a particular riff and suddenly the solo will erupt out of it, there isn’t some blocky structure where the riff ends and we are then given the solo before returning to sturdy riffing. If anything this demonstrates the band’s approach to songwriting, they want to continuously keep their audience guessing where and what the band will do next. The songwriting here isn’t predictable, it flows in and out enabling the band to accomplish more than what a younger band may have implemented within their own songwriting.
I particularly enjoyed how the band’s preferred speed was pretty mid-paced. For the most part, Near Death Condition would rather hit us with riffs delivered at a pace which enables their audience to get stuck in with their songwriting and really absorb as much of the minutiae as possible. By slowing their overall riff performance it allows the potential impact to be all the more amplified, especially when riffs such as these are beset by rapid fire blast beats and bass drumming. It creates this unique sonic juxtaposition where the band are ripping us to pieces and yet it still feels like slow motion; like watching a detonation in slow motion we’re able to take in the devastating aesthetic with much more potent detail. What’s more is that the band have established this persona through their songwriting that they could give us a longer track and still implement this approach to pacing because they allowed us that immersive quality.
The presence of instrumentals dotted throughout the record is an excellent example of the band’s understanding of structure. I was happy to see that there aren’t too many instrumentals here; sometimes a band that include multiple instrumentals have them all over the place which can make for a haphazard and choppy listening experience, it’s why I liked the band’s small number of them as well as we’re they’re placed. You have your go-to midway piece that splits the album in two parts, crafting a part one and two idea for your audience, and then you have your ending piece that brings you down from the high-strung and energetic peak we would be at for most of the record, relaxing us for a potential second listen.
In conclusion, I will say outright that I deeply enjoyed this album. If you ask me it’s one of the first really competent albums I’ve heard this year. The band champion this unconventional vocal performance coupled with a riff aesthetic that can sometimes be downright ethereal and cerebral. Near Death Condition never let the desire for speed get in the way of songwriting excellent because that’s precisely what we get, they always let us feel immersed within the respective track we’re listening to. That juxtaposing pacing between riffs and drumming works wonders for them as while we feel the power coursing through us, we can still absorb the coherent and well-structured songwriting that can additionally be unusual for rudimentary death metal. Ultimately, I think I appreciate this album because it does try to be unique, when I think of this record it doesn’t make me think of any other band but Near Death Condition. The persona the band have poured into this record is exceptional, you can feel identity and power dripping as it plays. Closing out the album with not one, but two instrumentals, that are equally unique and interesting to listen with ethereal and ambient elements laced within their durations, the band give us an album that we won’t forget anytime soon. Praise is deserved.
