German band WORDS OF FAREWELL was formed back in 2006, and following two initial EPs they released their debut album “Immersion” in 2012. Fast forward two more years and the band was ready with their second album “The Black Wild Yonder”, which was released through German label AFM Records in February 2014.
While I see most sites categorize this band as melodic death metal, the band themselves have opted to describe their music as progressive death metal. In this case I’d say that the band are rather more correct than others, as there’s basically only one element in their music I’d say has a death metal feel to it, and in this case I think that element is of a lesser importance in the grand scheme of things. In fact, I think progressive metal is a much better general description here, albeit not of the kind that can be compared to the more well known and heralded bands one tends to associate wit that specific style.
To deal with this aspect first: The sole death metal detail of this album are the vocals. The lead vocalist have opted for the vocal style I think is coined growling, with dark, aggressive spoken word like guttural vocal delivery a mainstay throughout. In this case a controlled one, and one that generally doesn’t add that menacing evil aspect to it all that often, which doe make the choice of delivery not quite as taxing to listen to. Still, if you hate grown style vocals, this isn’t the album that will convince you to like them I suspect.
Beneath the extreme metal style vocals there’s not all that much extreme stuff going on though. Constant change and variety are, on the other hand, key traits to this production through and through. There’s a tendency for these compositions to open or conclude with careful, delicate atmospheric passages, sometimes book-ending their compositions in these soft, gliding landscapes, and there’s occasionally room for an interlude or two of that kind within the individual composition too. In addition, floating keyboard textures and delicate wandering piano details are used to soften and add depth to the different arrangements too, and all in all this is a band aware of and with a well thought out use of details of a more careful and delicate manner. Complementing and supplementing the additional aspects of the compositions quite nicely, and executed with a touch of finesse and elegance.
There’s a need for gentler details though, as the core foundation of this band is music rather more intense. Hammering and intense riff barrages with a certain thrash metal flair to them alternate with almost industrial tinged sequences, in between a grand variety of majestic and monumental passages where guitars with and without keyboard support craft a loud, dark and almost oppressive dominant presence, given a certain emphasis by the growl style vocals, where the gentler keyboards, effects and piano details adds a much needed touch of light and hope to atmospheres that might otherwise have become just too oppressive. Melodic light toned guitar overlays, occasional use of what sounds like post rock style nervous guitar textures and melody oriented, flowing guitar soloing is also a part of this package, and whenever the band isn’t exploring intense hammering riffs or monumental, oppressive arrangements, you can be sure to find some quirky riff construction fluctuating or otherwise moving in not always quite the expected manner. With room for impact riffs and some djenty details here and there in most all of these variations, and with most compositions featuring all or at least the greater majority of the different aspects and approaches mentioned. With a few but effective keyboard soloing as an additional treat.
Intense, powerful and dark progressive metal, at times bordering the bombastic, is the end result. Oppressive and ominous rather than depressive, but also tight, vibrant and liberally flavored with gentler details and atmospheric laden sequences. With quality mix and production, the choice of using growling vocals is perhaps the sole element that will limit the general appeal of this production, which otherwise comes across as a fairly challenging and well made production that should appeal to those with an affection of intense and dark progressive metal.
My rating: 80/100
