22nd March 2024

Review: “Unity Unto None” by Duisternis

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and one, fleeting glance at the artwork which adornes the virgin sacrifice from Duisternis will tell you that it’s going to be a bleak and harrowing affair painted in Black Metal. Described as “music to ease the souls of the wicked” by vocalist and multi instrumentalist Chris Howell, “Unity Unto None” is twenty six minutes from Glasgow Scotland that has caught our attention…

An ethnic instrumental might not be where you would expect this journey down the left hand path to begin but title track “Unity Unto None” is a palate cleansing moment that focuses the mind with its melodic nuances before things take the anticipated violent twist. Opening cut proper “Shedding Of Soul And Skin” finds Howell painting in harsh whispers, tremolo picked guitars and luke warm synths building the atmosphere of abject horror. If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to be force fed LSD and held prisoner in a straight jacket like those in the The Spring Grove Experiment, then this is as close as you’re going to get. Bleak and harrowing, Howell’s words border on the poetic, his valley of torment becoming the discerning listeners ocean of despair. The banshee’s roar is heard in the distance as “Unto Resentment” takes hold, a churning, primitive Industrial Metal soundscape providing the back drop for perpetual agony to unfold. Depth and texture is given by icy keys, the eclectic nature of the beast making it the kind of work that would fit very well into a low budget horror film soundtrack. Increasing the intensity, “Stillborn” feels more focused and directed, the rhythmic gymnastics playing on classical themes, given a life of their own with fleeting moments of Death Metal riffage or electronics. Howell deserves a lot of credit, not only with the quality of his sonic abrasions but with the simple fact that this isn’t a demo. Yes, it’s raw and gritty but it is also polished at the same time, so you can bleed with every note. Turning his calloused hands to something of epic grandeur with “The Hollow Maker” he provides the kind of savage vision that is usually found in frozen wastelands. Warped keys make things eerie and disturbing, the possibility of a UFO landing to take us all away a distinct possibility with the primitive space age qualities of this. The spoken word is powerful, the dark swirling sands of time blinding in the wind of the tear in the space time continuum… [7.5/10]

Track Listing