Undergang – Døden Læger Alle Sår

undergang

Playing a cavernous underground music, Undergang have crystallized a style in Døden Læger Alle Sår that harks back to the sound not only of obvious Scandinavian forefathers but also to that of Morpheus Descends and Demoncy. Rather than spiraling through serpentine corridors as Incantation does, Undergang uses vocabulary from the Swedeath lingo here, and then the atmospheric death metal riff of Morpheus Descends there, only to descend into a the more inconspicuous atmospheric tremoloing of Demoncy to further the expression. Enriching this mixture of influences, we can also find unexpected doom-like moments with the economical and spacious approach of Worship.

 

Even though all these are present in Døden Læger Alle Sår, the style parade that a collection of influences often results in is not present here. It is also very important to stress that Undergang does not fall into trope repetition nor does it wink at the listener with a cliche here and a cliche there. The band expertly appropriates the different stylistic conventions under a overall Swedish death metal mantle and, more impressively, escapes the cliches of the latter as well. The reason why it can work is because the grindy Nihilist, the American Morpheus Descends and the decorative ends in Demoncy and Worship – like breaths are all compatible. It is only unfortunate that while all this has been accomplished, Undergang’s own voice still seems only visible as a blurry image behind this coherent, translucid tapestry.

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4 thoughts on “Undergang – Døden Læger Alle Sår

  1. Rich or Dead says:

    Can’t disagree with the review here, but Undergang’s music is just boring. They have a finely-honed sound and they do an expert job of fusing their influences, but there is no oomph to the songs. Too bad, I really want to like these guys. Hopefully they keep writing and recording because their next release could be something special.

  2. Count Ringworm says:

    Almost forgot about these guys; showed some promise on Indhentet Af Døden. Seems to me they are still trapped between styles and are destined to fizzle out as a mimicry.

    1. I agree with this observation.

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