Oppressive Descent – The Watcher’s Tower
USA
Self-released
This is a one-man project from Portland, Oregon, that was formed in 2008. He has 2 full-lengths under his belt as well as numerous EPs and splits. The sole member of this project has also played in a myriad of other projects, but most notably black/doom band, Death Fetishist.
Raw, melancholic, channeling total negativity at the listener, Oppressive Descent's recent EP, "The Watcher's Tower" clocks in at around 16 minutes. The EP has three tracks, with track 2 being a dark ambient segment that ties the first and third tracks together. There is definitely some depressive elements present, though they are overshadowed by a very sinister and malevolent atmosphere. The production is an ideal level of raw, maintaining both atmosphere and clarity. There is a good contrast of mid-paced and scissor blast passages. The former being more aligned with classic second wave, and the latter delving into the realms of depressive and atmospheric black metal. The entire album has a very droning and numbing effect on the listener, as if you're feeling exactly what the artist was feeling when they were writing the music.
Overall, a very short and to the point release, definitely better than most black metal that delves into the "depressive/suicidal" territory of sub-genres, since it's more on the scornful side of things. (AR)