The Eternal Marshes

Nottingham two-piece Bismuth have been described as "like Stonehenge, but music", which should tell you all you need to know, quite frankly. If you're unfamiliar with Wiltshire's most recognizable group of stones, however, then you should expect something enormous, vaguely mystical, largely inexplicable, and inconceivably heavy. Taking their cues from the torturous doom of Khanate and Burning Witch, but injecting it with a lethal dose of good old fashioned British misery, their sound is stark, ominous, and has such a weighty physical presence that you could probably reach out and touch it.

Their only release so far, 'The Eternal Marshes' is a 16 minute long experience that will likely damage you for the rest of your life. Joe Rawlings' subtle, expressive drumming provides a solid plinth for Tanya Byrne's seismic bass emanations, terrifying screams, and eerie chants, and the results are pretty damn startling indeed. Their sense of dynamics is great and the pair never feel as though they're just wailing on the same note indefinitely for the sake of it. The track has a clear purpose and never meanders into monotony, remaining both imposing and mesmerizing for the duration. In fact, the 16 minutes seem to pass by all too quickly, but I guess time flies when you're having your ribcage broken by tremendous waves of impending doom.

Unsurprisingly for a release of this quality, the tape has now sold out, but you can still download it through their Bandcamp page, which you should do immediately if you're the faintest bit interested in the slower side of music. Proceed with caution, however, 'cause much like Stonehenge's towering obelisks, there are some riffs on this thing that could absolutely flatten you if you're not careful.

[Originally written for http://grindtodeath.com/]