Mysterious, cold, distressing, but also magnificent: this is a short description of None, a DSBM project from Portland, Oregon, USA. None is one of the best, if not the best creator of depressive black metal today. The moniker is a denial of identity that makes you reflect when you read or hear it, and this denial of self, this non-identity is painfully expressed in their music. First of all, None never degrade themselves in the self-commiserating, and even a little pathetic, whining typical of many depressive black metal acts; None is emotions, atmospheres, and every single note is authentic and sincere.
Started in 2015, this project immediately established itself within the DSBM scene with the first two albums, None from 2017 and Life Has Gone On Enough from 2018 respectively. The gloom, the dreadful and haunting melodies showcased in these two albums rise to sublime and epic levels on the latest album Damp Chill of Life. While the first two albums followed relatively traditional patterns, the latter breaks all moulds and creates something personal and unique. Damp Chill of Life is a concept album in which the songs are interconnected both musically and thematically; it is, therefore, wrong to consider this album as a collection of individual and separate songs, like any other album. There is a profound composition work in every aspect of the album, in the arrangements, in the choice of instruments, in the development of the songs. One of the most intense moments is the beginning of “Cease”: those notes from an old, abandoned, and perhaps broken piano give the most perfect musical image of desolation. Another highlight, maybe the album's climax, is “It's Painless to Let Go”. The whole album, and these two songs in particular, weave visionary soundscapes and destroy your optimism with their oppressively bleak atmosphere. A masterpiece and one of the best DSBM albums ever.
Notes:
Damp Chill of Life was released as digital release and as CD on April 11, 2019 through Hypnotic Dirge Records; a 12” vinyl limited edition will be released January 7, 2021.
Personnel:
Unknown
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
Started in 2015, this project immediately established itself within the DSBM scene with the first two albums, None from 2017 and Life Has Gone On Enough from 2018 respectively. The gloom, the dreadful and haunting melodies showcased in these two albums rise to sublime and epic levels on the latest album Damp Chill of Life. While the first two albums followed relatively traditional patterns, the latter breaks all moulds and creates something personal and unique. Damp Chill of Life is a concept album in which the songs are interconnected both musically and thematically; it is, therefore, wrong to consider this album as a collection of individual and separate songs, like any other album. There is a profound composition work in every aspect of the album, in the arrangements, in the choice of instruments, in the development of the songs. One of the most intense moments is the beginning of “Cease”: those notes from an old, abandoned, and perhaps broken piano give the most perfect musical image of desolation. Another highlight, maybe the album's climax, is “It's Painless to Let Go”. The whole album, and these two songs in particular, weave visionary soundscapes and destroy your optimism with their oppressively bleak atmosphere. A masterpiece and one of the best DSBM albums ever.
Notes:
Damp Chill of Life was released as digital release and as CD on April 11, 2019 through Hypnotic Dirge Records; a 12” vinyl limited edition will be released January 7, 2021.
Personnel:
Unknown
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
