From the first few seconds of Helpless Agony Persistent Acrimony, you’re dropped into a dark, swirling void of sound. It’s dense, heavy, and unrelenting, pulling together elements of death, black, and doom metal with a raw, visceral intensity.
The guitars are a huge part of why this album works so well. At times, they’re frantic, ripping through tremolo-picked riffs that could slice through steel. Then, they suddenly slow to a doom-inspired crawl, each chord landing like a stone dropped into a bottomless pit. It’s not just the riffs themselves, though - it’s the way they shift gears so naturally. You’re never quite sure where the song will take you next, but it all feels like part of the same twisted journey.
Vocals here like something clawing its way out of the earth, while the occasional shriek adds a sharper, almost desperate edge.
As for the rhythm section, the drums and bass are the quiet heroes here. The drums keep the chaos in check, switching between frantic blast beats and slower, almost funeral-like pacing. Meanwhile, the bass - while often understated - has this deep, ominous tone that really anchors the whole sound. When everything else feels like it’s spiraling out of control, the bass is there to remind you where the ground is (not that you’ll feel grounded for long).
The atmosphere is what really pulls you in. It’s suffocating in the best way, layering melody and noise to create something that feels alive. There’s this constant tension - like the music is always on the edge of collapsing into chaos, but it never does. That’s where the magic is: in the way the band keeps control of all this intensity without losing the raw, unfiltered energy that makes it so compelling.
One thing I appreciated was how textured the sound is. Beneath the surface-level heaviness, there are little details - a subtle guitar harmony here, a faint atmospheric effect there. It’s not in your face, but it’s there if you listen closely, giving the music a surprising amount of depth.
This album is not going to be for everyone. It’s relentless in its darkness, with very few moments of relief. For listeners who aren’t already fans of extreme metal, it could feel overwhelming - like you’re being crushed under a wave with no chance to come up for air.
Another thing to note is that the album doesn’t have many standout hooks or riffs. It’s very much about the whole experience rather than individual moments, which is great if you’re in the mood to lose yourself in the sound but might leave you struggling to remember specific parts once it’s over.
At its core, Helpless Agony Persistent Acrimony is heavy, dark, and it’s absolutely uncompromising. For fans of death, black, and doom metal, this is a feast of raw emotion and expertly crafted chaos.
But it’s not casual listening. This is music you sit with, music that demands your full attention. If you’re willing to go all-in, though, it’ll reward you with an intense, cathartic experience that lingers long after the final note fades.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556432141152
