Artist: The Breathing Process
Title: Odyssey: (Un)Dead
Type: Album
Label: Siege of Amida Records

With seemingly endless line up changes, US band The Breathing Process has successfully managed to put together a quality symphonic black metal album with touches of deathly heaviness. Beginning the album with a voice that sounds like the Jigsaw killer from the Saw films the opening intro track “Hours” perfectly paves the way for the blackened onslaught that erupts forth from the speakers (or headphones in my case). My first thoughts of Anorexia Nervosa appear such is the style of atmosphere and driving intensity the band often employs in all of their songs. Coupled to that the band obviously loves Dimmu Borgir and anything that resembles melodic symphonic black metal with “Grimoire” being a prime example. At times the band uses a short lived slamming riff technique to bolster the heaviness which I guess adds an extra tad of modern flair.

The layering production aspects do add that rich sonic soundscape one expects from this genre and being honest it is difficult to see how this genre would survive without it. “Leveller” starts with pleasant piano before being engulfed by double bass and rapid blasts, and whilst many bands of this genre are content to use their keys for creating a backdrop of atmosphere this band actually uses them as leads as well which is a welcome addition. No album of this style is complete without the cleaner vocal style and here we are treated to the female variety which thankfully didn’t annoy the hell out of me nor turn a track like “Vultures” into a gayfest, especially as the song contains a furious double bass demolition and is a favourite on the album. The title track has more of those modern slamming riff tendencies after the initial gothic wave beginning as the haunting female vocals sweep in from nowhere with a cascade of piano. “Metamorphosis” is slower at first before the bands favourite trait of double bass rhythms is injected with tons of synth. The structure works fine, keeping each song engaging and varied as even the splashes of slamming add extra oomph to each song. Granted it is difficult to pin point any outstanding tracks, aside from “Vultures”, as most will say this is very similar to Dimmu Borgir depending on your depth of experience. Personally this is far closer to Abigail Williams or Xerath such is the blend of death tinged symphonic blackness. If the band manages to retain a stable line up then I suspect we will hear a lot more from this band.

http://www.myspace.com/tbp

Martin Harris

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