Review by Michael on September 10, 2024.

German deathers Anasarca are back with a three-piece demo called Goddess Of The Somber Shade and they don’t take any prisoners here but blast straight from the beginning. The band has existed since 1995 already and if you know them you know what to expect: a mixture of technical and brutal death metal with really deep-grunted vocals.

The first track ‘Achlys’ is both, brutal but also quite melodic in some parts. In some parts only because they ehm… let’s say borrowed a well-known melody from Edvard Grieg. This melody is used quite often in the song and matches really well with the stuff. Apart from that the song goes into brutal death metal mode more often than not, especially when it comes to the drumming. Not that it's exaggerated and excessive as bands like Sanguisugabogg do, no this is still fine to hear and more old-school than this modern brutal shit. 

‘He Is Dead’ is more traditional death metal with some melodic guitar riffs that remind a little bit of Dismember when they tried to do some Iron Maiden goes to hell-songs on their later albums. The bridge in that track is a really nice brutal banger, catchy and straight-in-your-face. If vocalist Michael didn’t sound that guttural and the drums weren’t so thunderous, I guess the song would be only half that brutal though.

And finally, they deliver us ‘In Memoriam’. That one starts slightly dissonant and slower than the other tracks (maybe Morbid Angel during “Covenant” is a good similarity) but turns into a wrecking ball in its evolution. In this song there are a lot of tempo changes to be found, with heavy blast beat attacks and double-layered vocals. Personally I like all three tracks. Maybe you can criticize it about the fact that they don't have any innovative elements in their songwriting (if you're searching for the fly in the ointment) but apart from this, their new demo (which sounds really good for a demo) is a solid piece of uncompromising death metal. Maybe slightly anachronistic and with a lot of 90s flair but hey! Who cares? I don´t because I still am deeply rooted in that decade when it comes to metal. Only TV was better in the 80s, gonna watch some SledgeHammer and Airwolf later today.

Check out their demo here or get it if you see them live. If any record company guys read this, you know what you have to do!

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Chris Pratl on March 13, 2018.

Belgium's Emptiness is a very interesting band, to say the least. When I hear the tags of "black/death metal" I immediately think of some classic hybrid of sound and occasional fury that disseminates volatility throughout my listening room. What I didn't expect was an even flow of sorrowful, almost lulling tones that are rife with deathly cynicism and haunting beauty. This is most definitely not your typical death metal heard today, and I'm not sure the band would dig the sentiment of beauty being associated with its music. That said, subjectivity and personal engagement is what it's all about. Also per usual, Dark Descent Records pulls out another winner!

From the very first notes, Nothing But the Whole creates a stimulating pathway that offers no light or comfort as you are surrounded by the sounds of an unearthly fogginess. Between the slow and brooding elements and the genuine weight of the guitar tone I'm simply mesmerized at the sheer brilliance of this record on every level. I'm sitting here literally encased by this tremendous music and all I can force myself to think about is how to classify this band's album...so I just won't bother. What I can offer you is the opinion that this particular CD is probably unlike anything you'd have heard in recent years. There is a real sadism wrapped in the almost hypnotic chords laced effortlessly throughout. By the time 'All is Known' barrels down into your psyche, you're completely entranced by this album, and it's a truly pleasant experience. This track is a very subduing piece to take in, and its successor, 'Tale of a Burning Man' just capitulates on the very aesthetics of the death metal / black metal marriage with its speedy guitar riffing and overall wall of darkness that accompanies any genuine meshing of the two worlds. You can literally find everything in this effort, and I think more people are going to be digging out this band's back catalog in the coming weeks. 

The vocals are a perfect hushed tone of breathy defiance that sort of languish under the music's easy aura. There is so much going on I'm not entirely sure this isn't some grand nightmare come to life or just an expertly crafted piece of horror and solitude that just happens to have musical accompaniment. I think the additional merging of two ideas and worlds might serve well here in that regard; the musical nightmare you may experience will only be highlighted by moments of serene claustrophobia and an occasional visitation of mental decaying. 

There is a perfect solemnity and a true authenticity to the somber, evocative mood emanating from this collective. Nothing But the Whole is everything serene and encapsulating in the dim, grainy bosom of death; there is nothing more gratifying than to be subdued by an overwhelming feeling of dread in her most hospitable and musical form. Emptiness provides her with such a soundtrack. 

(Originally written for www.metalpsalter.com)