“End the hope, end the veneration, annul the monolith to which we gave rise, total reversion.” These were the parting words of Ulcerate's Shrines Of Paralysis, a nihilistic ode to the apocalypse. Four years passed since and now we face the ashes left in its wake and from them Stare Into Death And Be Still emerges. The timing of this release could not better now as most of our world sits silent in trepidation. Some people are terrified, some ignorant, some complacent and some, less fortunate, focused on just surviving. Whatever the case, each day the media continues to blindly showcase statistics with next to no context. Deaths and those infected are being translated into mere numbers which isn't anything new considering how desensitized of a civilization we are but in this particular situation, it all reeks a bit more than usual. This perfectly correlates to the main theme of the record – “death reverence”. Bleak for sure but luckily for you and me, this particular trio creates art rooted in the darkest confines of the human psyche.
Not just create, they weave intricate compositions drenched with dissonance and submerged beneath an oppressive atmosphere. This in itself isn't anything new to modern death metal but what makes Ulcerate stand out is the how they utilize every familiar element to create this unique, massive, emotionally draining and cathartically violent landscape. And with each record they released, you noticed a subtle shift, sometimes they were too subtle but this all changed with the aforementioned Shrines Of Paralysis which introduced melody. It was noticeable but never fully explored due to the suffocating and spastic nature of the record and the extremely murky mix which is another hallmark of the band.
Yet with Stare Into Death And Be Still the paradigm shifted, the production was never as clear and the trio never sounded as melodic and spacious. This makes this particular album their most accessible yet but make no mistake, nothing was lost, in fact, I would say it added more depth to an already “complete” band. I say complete because of the dizzying and always perplexing performances, evocative lyrics and just sheer presence. Paul Kelland remains a growling powerhouse, masterful lyricist and an equally skilled bass player. Most overlooked band member in my opinion but it's not difficult to see why considering how monstrous the other two are.
First off, the obvious, Jamie Saint Merat and his drumming. For me and I am sure many of you, Saint Merat was the thing that immediately grabbed your attention. I can only think of a handful of drummers that come close to his prowess and even fewer that match it. It comes down to his unbelievable independence, creativity and of course mastery of time signatures but unlike a legion of tech death drummers, he can show restraint when needed. And that restraint shines brightly on Stare Into Death And Be Still which is why I believe this is his finest hour yet. Not just his though, the whole band's which leads us to Michael Hoggard. Among his numerous talents, what I find the most fascinating is his distinct approach to harmonization and how he counters them with dissonance, wonky octaves or simply jumps between all of them on the go.
It's such a satisfying dynamic and one the whole band shares which is why every Ulcerate album is such a journey. You never know what awaits around the corner and that sense of anticipation keeps you on your toes at all times. Of course, the trio are fully aware of this and use it against you. I say against like it's a bad thing but let's be honest, all of us here are mere spectators left to decipher and interpret the organized chaos. It's something very similar to Deathspell Omega and to an extent Portal but in case of Ulcerate this is a much more emotional and intuitive. This is where all the post-metal comparisons have been coming from since the days of The Destroyers Of All where they first implemented it.
However, as with every Ulcerate offering, this one does feel monotonous and taxing on the mind if indulged too many times but what's great is how quickly the sense of monotony dispersed. The speed of said dispersion was a clear indicator that Stare Into Death And Be Still was something truly special. Nevertheless, Kelland's one-note delivery deserves to be mentioned but it's nothing that deterred my enjoyment of this in any way shape or form.
From the first jagged harmony of “The Lifeless Advance” to that final cymbal hit that closes out the record, Stare Into Death And Be Still successfully held my attention for the entirety of its run time. Not only held but completely engrossed me and allowed my imagination to run wild and craft these obscene Beksinski-meets-Bruegel landscapes of abandoned cities riddled with ash.
And of course, the band's upward trend of album-length (insert tm here pls <3) continues as this is currently their longest effort yet it doesn't feel like it at all which is a new sensation. A sensation you won't get by reading this review which I feel is already way too long.
With all this said, I forgot to mention one crucial thing. No it's not describing how the songs sound but rather how Stare Into Death And Be Still will be equally fascinating to veteran fans and newcomers. And newcomers I expect because this is already surrounded with a substantial amount of hype and this review will definitely help spread it, much to your and mine satisfaction. There is no doubt about it, this is an absolute triumph and the Ulcerate record I've been waiting for. Turns out watching the aftermath of an apocalypse never looked (and sounded) better. Just sit back, let the flood wash over you and see it to the end.
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