Sick with Bloom

So, I came across this band when I randomly stumbled upon Ustalost's latest record. And let me tell you, from the first listen a few months back, I just knew it was something special—a total blend of atmospheric black metal vibes. Like, imagine being smack dab in the middle of a dense forest, surrounded by woody textures, field recordings, and that sweet lo-fi production. It all just clicked, creating this wicked balanced sonic journey that left me hungry for more.

Then, one evening, I was chilling in a field, with this album as my sidekick. And bam, that moment right there transformed it into not just a favourite atmospheric black metal record, but one of my all-time favourite metal albums.

Now, describing this record is like trying to catch lightning in a bottle. There's so much depth beneath the surface—layers of sound that straight-up teleport you to the heart of the woods. The guitars and drums feel like they were jammed out amidst the trees, with this unique wood-scratching vibe that even rolls into the vocals. Big shoutout to the band for their wicked mixing and production; it's where the line between ordinary and extraordinary totally blurs. And those bells... they're like whispers from another dimension.

Let's break it down track by track. Each one's like its own little universe, packed with gloom, sweetness, anger, bitterness, melody, and dissonance—all mashed together perfectly. The guitar work? Dude, it's off the charts, transcending genre boundaries with its sheer musicality. The bass fills up all the spaces left by the guitars, while the drums (it's not hypertechnical still it works) keep the whole thing grounded, matching the intensity of the music. And the vocals, man, they might not be heavy on lyrics, but they're dripping with raw emotion, adding another layer to the sonic masterpiece.

I could ramble on for ages just about the guitar work. The two bros behind it? They're like magicians, bouncing between similarities and distinctiveness, leaving you straight-up stunned by their musical chops. And yeah, while you might draw some comparisons to other bands like WITR and Krallice, YE's crafted something totally unique—an auditory trip unlike anything else out there.

Now, indulge me for a sec as I reminisce about that evening in the field. Starting the album, I'd almost forgotten about all its intricacies, but within minutes, I was lost in this world of abstract memories and indescribable vibes. Part A? Captivating as heck. But Part B... oh man, Part B was a whole different story. From the haunting riff of 'Mangrove, the Preserver,' it was like a whole new journey unfolded—a ride that legit brought tears to my eyes. I tried to focus on each riff, but I was straight-up swept away by the depth of the music's vibe.

Sure, by all the official standards, this might just be another record. But for me? It's a freaking soul-stirring masterpiece. It's dripping with emotion, leaving its mark on anyone who listens.

So, if you're down, give it another spin. Dive into Part B with all your attention, and let the music take you on a wild ride. Trust me, it's an experience you won't wanna miss out on. And hey, don't forget to crank up the quality—FLAC and some top-notch headphones are the way to go. You gotta soak in every single nuance of this sonic gem.