FULL OF HELL & NOTHING
When No Birds Sang (Closed Casket Activities)
At first glance, the similarities between extreme metal unit Full Of Hell and downbeat shoegazers Nothing might not be too obvious, but scratch the surface and there’s plenty of crossover between both camps. Along with being Relapse Records labelmates, there’s a nihilistic streak in both bands and a will to not comply with genre expectations.
While Full Of Hell have previously worked with acts including Merzbow and The Body, this is Nothing’s first collaborative effort. The warp-speed grinding of the former band has been tamed into a slower, but no less abrasive resignation into crushing sludge, while Nothing’s approach opens up opportunities for spacious meanderings which lean into post-rock territory.
The harsh noise elements have been reigned in to provide more atmosphere and serve more as a manipulation of the sounds created by both bands. This is best demonstrated on Forever Well, which seems to be the most cohesive an amalgamation of what both bands do best. When No Birds Sangis, equally, an unexpected collaboration, which in practise sounds exactly how you would imagine.
words GARETH MOULEÂ