Resonance - Illwind – The Unfolding at the End of Light

Illwind – The Unfolding at the End of Light    8/10

Hailing from Peru is Illwind. Their debut album is The Unfolding at the End of Light, a doom-infused piece of art that takes its inspiration from any source. It is as dreamlike as it is bone crushingly heavy, a modern form of doom that is also richly indebted to the masters of it across its epic five tracks.

The clean vocals make for a refreshing change compared to the more prevalent funeral Doom at present. It has a modern sensibility that whilst it has huge Sabbath inspired moments, there is a keen sense of melody and modern dynamics that sets this Peruvian outfit apart from its peers. It has a truly heavy stoner inflected aspect of the music born of bone crushing riffs and melancholic time changes and a foreboding sense of atmosphere. ‘God of Sleep’  is blessed with and excellent intro and a huge main section, with the clean vocals sitting above the madness below.  ‘Portal’ is brief in comparison carrying the gravitas of the classics and modern dynamics, its riffing tinged with a touch of psychedelia and deep groove, and the solo is an excellent crescendo of heavy music wonder.

The Unfolding at the End of Light is an album that lovers of extremely heavy music will enjoy, that is daring and experimental, how many doom bands can pull off the Stooges “I Wanna Be Your Dog’’  that remains loyal to the original but is probably the heaviest interpretation you will ever hear. Blessed with an ambience and addictive drone, Illwind has created something truly special and daunting within the genre.

https://personal-records.bandcamp.com/album/the-unfolding-at-the-end-of-light