ITP V.012 REVIEW: LOSS: DESPOND

BAND: LOSS (NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, USA) GENRE: DEATH/FUNERAL DOOM/METAL LABEL: PROFOUND LORE RELEASE DATE: 5/31/2011

PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG):FO(U)R BURIALS (2011-SPLIT EP-REISSUE-Mournful Congregation / Otesanek / Loss / Orthodox-PARASITIC RECORDS), FOUR BURIALS (2008-SPLIT EP-Mournful Congregation / Otesanek / Loss / Orthodox-BATTLE KOMMAND RECORDS), WORSHIP/LOSS (2005-SPLIT EP), NECROS CHRISTOS/LOSS (2005-SPLIT EP), 2004-LIVE WITHOUT HOPE, DEATH WITHOUT REASON-DEMO), CONCEPTUAL FUNERALISIM (2004-REHEARSAL DEMO)

BEST RELEASE: DESPOND (2011)

TRACKLISTING: LOSS DESPOND:
1. Weathering the Blight
2. Open Veins to a Curtain Closed
3. Cut Up, Depressed and Alone
4. Deprived of the Void
5. An Ill Body Seats My Sinking Sight
6. Despond
7. Shallow Pulse
8. Conceptual Funeralism Unto the Final Act (of Being)
9. Silent and Completely Overcome
10. The Irreparable Act

ITP RATING: ****
PRODUCTION: ***
SONGWRITING: *** 1/2
PERFORMANCE: **** 1/2



Founded in 2003, Nashville, Tennessee death/funeral doomsters LOSS have been breaking open the coffin of funeral doom for almost 10 years, consistently releasing splits with well known funeral doom projects and so goes doom, at a snails pace, making a name for themselves in the funeral doom scene.

After many mutations, LOSS finally inked a deal with well known experimental, extreme metal label PROFOUND LORE and have released their first full length and debut DESPOND, perhaps one of the best doom, and perhaps underrated releases of 2011.

LOSS conjure bleak images of despair melding death/doom/ambient/noise and elements of black metal into a cauldron of depressive atmospheres, enough for serotonin levels to drop into a suffocating plea of suicide.

"DESPOND", the PROFOUND LORE debut by LOSS kicks off with the track "Weathering the Blight", a spoken word intro/track accommodated only with lightly plucked guitar chords.

LOSS, "Open Veins to a Curtain Closed" is played with a simple, funeral doom beat, awesome gurgling death vox and mournful, melodic guitar.. The floor drops on"Open Veins to a Curtain Closed" (2:18) as LOSS take an instrumental break backed with beautiful spoken word and a gorgeous non distortion guitar solo as at 5:18 the tune segues back into melodic funeral doom. "Open Veins to a Curtain Closed" segues into blackened chants as LOSS vocalist Mike Meacham (guitars and vocals) switches gears into black metal rasps for variety as the song breaks down into some godly/melodic doom.

As LOSS shed insight on the depressive disease of "cutting", "Cut Up, Depressed and Alone" evokes a beautiful melodic, instrumental intro, bluesy and engaging as the vocals drip through like blood from severed veins. LOSS drop the serotonin levels, as at 3:01 "Cut Up, Depressed and Alone" breaks down into a melancholic instrumental of plucked (non distorted) guitar, beautiful in atmosphere.."Cut Up, Depressed and Alone" segues back into a melodic, mournful hymn of despondent bliss.

"Deprived of the Void" is a 3:08 ambient drone track, dark, bleak in atmosphere, sinister in tone, as LOSS takes listeners on a breathier in between despondent, melancholic mourning.

"An Ill Body Seats My Sinking Sight" crawls in on a funeral doom journey before segueing into beautifully performed, melodic twin guitar solos, bluesy, creepy and psychotic. LOSS pronounce each riff with repetition as the segues seem to seamlessly weave a trance like thread into a subconscious, depressive haze.

The instrumental title track of "Despond", is the sound of psychosis, as LOSS evoke bleak piano, and whispered spoken word emulating the mind of a psychotic and audio hallucinations, descending into mental madness.

"Shallow Pulse" evokes quality songwriting as LOSS combine funeral doom with a bluesy, depressive haze, a trance of bleak BLACK SABBATH riff o' rama, comforting in sorrow, excellent in riff selection and transition.

LOSS evoke some wondrous and beautiful twin guitar solos, on "Conceptual Funeralism Unto the Final Act (of Being)", setting for a bleak and melancholic atmosphere, gorgeous. "Conceptual Funeralism Unto the Final Act (of Being)" segues at a snails pace (3:44) into only the main guitar melody, Mike Meacham's pained growls and choral backing vocals.. "Conceptual Funeralism Unto the Final Act (of Being)" evokes an intimate atmosphere between the listener and a lonely journey into this nameless disease called depression.

LOSS add vocal variety on "Silent and Completely Overcome" (Brett Campbell of PALLBEARER guest clean vox) with absolutely gorgeous clean vocals, "I do not remember, a depression sutch as this"..."Silent and Completely Overcome" dips into a bi polar mood, as LOSS explores the dark despondency of cutting pronounced by Mike Meacham's death vox and beautiful melodic riffs and solos. Like a bi polar, LOSS evoke a dramatic segue into blastbeats and black metal rasps (6:14), and a transition into a stoner/doom, clean vocal, melancholic bliss.

LOSS close "Despond" with the primarily instrumental track "The Irreparable Act", evoking a sad plucked guitar, the soundtrack to permanent act over perhaps a temporary problem, as the protagonist feels trapped in his own oppressive condition. "The Irreparable Act" features a consolidation of spoken word, heavy doom, funeral procession keyboards as when the Gregorian chants seep in, you know he's gone, someone chose death over life, and as the listeners shutter with that decision, he is free, and you are free to make your own choices.

LOSS has unleashed a stunning debut, "DESPOND" is a tormented journey through the abyss of self mutilation, depression and death. DESPOND is relentless in tone, despairing in atmosphere an articulate and heart wrenching journey into the depths of the human condition.

LOSS employ a variety of vocal styles and consolidate wondrous riff transitions with quality songwriting as every tune has it's own personality. LOSS weave melancholy instrumental passages with bluesy/funeral doom, excellent riff transitions, crushing guitar tones and excellent (early OPETH/KATATONIA/MY DYING BRIDE) twin guitar interplay.

"DESPOND" succeeds where a lot of funeral doom fails, LOSS offer alot of potential in the bands variety, a sonic, cathartic cleansing of the neurotransmitters for a despairing Prozac Nation. Most funeral doom is littered with too much repetition, as songs sound identical.. LOSS consolidate a mixture of melancholy, bleak tones for a crushing, intimate and engaging listen.

"DESPOND" is no remedy, as LOSS offer just a reflection of the often dysfunctional human psyche, as LOSS have unleashed one of the best debut's of 2011, if not one of last years best releases.

:shutters: Anti-Psychotics and Anti Depressants not included.

ITP RATING: ****
PRODUCTION: ***
SONGWRITING: *** 1/2
PERFORMANCE: **** 1/2

Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-