Radiating Desolation

Anyone wanting an introduction into Blood Red Fog's substantial discography could do no worse than entering through this early EP. "Radiating Desolation" is a raw depressive affair long enough to be an album in its own right and featuring some excellent music with a rock'n'roll groove and a garage feel.

Initially opening track "King" is a lethargic beast that might have the more sensitive among you eyeing any nearby ropes and ties for longer than you had intended to but it soon acquires a rock'n'roll rhythm, an energetic lead guitar and gruff vocals to cheer you all up. The lyrics allude to the impermanence of power and might, of the transient nature of human civilisations and imperial arrogance. "Les Esprits Souffrants" is much more gritty black metal in style and texture, with catchy hooks both fast and slow, all piling on sheer heaviness and thick grime crust onto the riffs. The groaning vocals are hard to hear beneath all that thunder - howls of anguish and pain might be all most people can make out under the thudding drums and steely guitar chords. Of the four tracks on the EP, this one can be quite a contrast, alternating between punky fast and doomy slow, and together with spiky lead guitar melody and surprisingly hooky rhythms might be the stand-out track for a lot of listeners.

The title track continues in much the same way as previous tracks and nothing that didn't appear previously is included here. The drumming is very strong with a live feel. Not too much polishing was done in the studio when the album was being recorded and the raw quality of the music is a highlight of the song and the EP generally. "Departure" is a more sorrowful and despairing piece but again it's no great ... uh, departure from the rest of the recording in style and structure.

The music is good and consistent in execution if not really remarkable. While it's raw and basic in presentation, the texture is gritty and there's a ragged desperation, there's not much difference from one track to the next: yes, they are all varied but the variation turns out to be quite limited. What really stands out for me is the garage feel, the weary desperate attitude and the sense that the musicians are standing on the edge of an abyss and playing for their lives.