Profane Burial's 'Desolate Echoes of Turmoil' is a bold and ambitious album, but it falls short of its potential due to a lack of cohesion. The Norwegian trio, comprised of Kjetil Ytterhus, André Aaslie, and Bjørn Dugstad Rønnow, along with several guest musicians, have crafted an album that is both innovative and frustrating. The album's title is a fitting description of the experience: a journey through a desolate and tumultuous landscape. However, the execution leaves something to be desired. The album's opening track, 'Den Fortaptes Krønike', sets the tone with a soothing, melodic guitar passage, but it quickly devolves into a chaotic blast beat frenzy. This contrast between the album's more melodic and aggressive sections is a recurring theme, and it becomes a source of frustration. The album's strength lies in its ambition and experimentation. The use of varied instrumentation, including guitar, bass, keys, drums, and even piano, is commendable. The album's production quality is high, and the musicianship is top-notch. However, the album's lack of cohesion and the abrupt shifts between sections make it a difficult listen. The album's second track, 'Prognostic Augural Obsolescence', showcases the band's versatility with its lurching single-note riffs and soaring guitar solos. The third track, 'Triumph of Dreadful Aftermath', features harmonized melodic lines and a more traditional black metal approach. These tracks demonstrate the band's range and potential, but they are isolated instances of excellence rather than a cohesive whole. The album's midpoint, 'Channeling Epiphany', is a prime example of the album's fragmentation. The track begins with a palm-muted triplet stomp, only to be interrupted by a dramatic piano performance and synthetic orchestral strings. While each section is well-written and appealing, the lack of segues between them makes the track feel disjointed. The album's penultimate track, 'Horror Code, Pt 2', is a welcome reprieve from the fragmentation. The track features natural transitions and incorporates the backing symphony into the black metal, creating a fittingly melancholic atmosphere. However, this is the exception rather than the rule. The album's final track, 'Triumph of Dreadful Aftermath', is a return to the album's more traditional black metal roots. While it is a solid track, it feels like a cop-out after the album's experimental sections. In conclusion, 'Desolate Echoes of Turmoil' is an ambitious and innovative album, but it is let down by its lack of cohesion. The album's fragmentation and abrupt shifts between sections make it a frustrating listen, despite the band's obvious talent and potential. The album's recommended tracks, 'Prognostic Augural Obsolescence', 'Triumph of Dreadful Aftermath', and 'Channeling Epiphany', are highlights, but they are not enough to save the album as a whole. Personally, I think the album's potential was not fully realized, and it could have been a true masterpiece if the band had focused on cohesion and seamless transitions. In my opinion, the album's fragmentation is a missed opportunity, and it is a shame that the band did not take the time to ensure a more cohesive listening experience. From my perspective, the album's lack of cohesion is a significant drawback, and it is a detail that I find especially interesting. What this really suggests is that the band's ambition and experimentation are commendable, but they need to be executed with more care and attention to detail. One thing that immediately stands out is the album's production quality, which is high, but it is not enough to make up for the album's fragmentation. If you take a step back and think about it, the album's lack of cohesion is a symptom of the band's ambition and experimentation, but it is also a missed opportunity to create a truly cohesive and memorable album. This raises a deeper question: how can a band balance ambition and experimentation with cohesion and seamless transitions? A detail that I find especially interesting is the album's use of varied instrumentation. While it is commendable, it is not enough to make up for the album's fragmentation. What makes this particularly fascinating is the album's potential to create a truly unique and memorable listening experience, but the lack of cohesion holds it back. Personally, I think the album's potential was not fully realized, and it is a shame that the band did not take the time to ensure a more cohesive listening experience. In my opinion, the album's fragmentation is a missed opportunity, and it is a shame that the band did not take the time to ensure a more cohesive listening experience. From my perspective, the album's lack of cohesion is a significant drawback, and it is a detail that I find especially interesting. What this really suggests is that the band's ambition and experimentation are commendable, but they need to be executed with more care and attention to detail.
