Through the Cracks of the Earth

Ireland's Altar of Plagues contacted me a few months ago to review their new EP, "Through the Cracks of the Earth", and I'm just now getting around to doing it. Honestly, I'm glad it took me this long, because it really took me many listens to let it soak in. Despite being five tracks in length, three of them are full songs, the other two being an intro track and an intermission track. While this release is just under 30 minutes in length, it does a rather effective job at being concise, but not too simplistic, and interesting enough to not get tiresome too quickly.

Track three is the intermission track, and is laced with cello strings, oceanic atmosphere, drums and clean guitar plucking. This is effective in setting the stage for the final two tracks, both of which are the longest, and more progressively driven tracks. Not everyone is a fan of intermissions, but the completist nerd in me, who loves listening to albums from one end to the other ad nauseum really appreciates the placement of this. Just when I feel that I'm about to submerge, "Promise and Purpose" comes elbowing its way in.

The production is actually the polar opposite of 'raw', having a rather stuffy feel to it, as if it's overloading a small room. I don't think this hinders the tracks, however I'd definitely like to hear a bit more on the high end and less of the mid ranges. But it is complimentary to the music, which is a particularly heavy style of black metal, flirting with death metal at times while keeping a progressive attitude about song structure. All three of the regular songs are longer than the average track and what is exciting is this alludes to the possibility of some really lengthy, fantastic opuses in the future. Very solid work.


Originally written for http://www.probablysmug.com/