It was about time Batillus got some loving Stateside. Over the course of the last three years, the New York quartet has recorded some of the darkest doom this side of the century and for the most part, the band remained largely in the dark. It was in 2009 when after self-releasing an EP, the charity-prone band decided to give away for free their tour only recording Beard Destroyer EP, and one year later it was up to German label Vendetta to put out a formal split with one man marvel Hallowed Butchery. Counted New Yorkers and those truly in the know may have gotten a taste, but it wasn’t until now that Batillus are getting the push they deserve.
From vantage point, this Seventh Rule release mimics and celebrates the organic way in which bands used to develop their sound and foster their cred and their audience. Once ready or truly ripe, after recording and arduous touring Batillus are finally ready for mass consumption. But lovers of acid sounds, please don’t take that as an warning that the band has softened their attack. Far from it, those who paid attention since the start saw incremental advancements, and significant gains in scope. But Furnace, just crushes. It expands and grows and through thick and thicker, it remains a wildly dense recording.
Sanford Parker was in charge of recording and mixing. An obvious choice taking into account the way in which the band’s low tones transpire and let loose Batillus’ more ethereal side. Listening to Furnace is obvious that besides the typical string and percussion frontal assault what we are witnessing are also subliminal and omnipotent notes. At times psychedelic but always congested and humid, Furnace is specially designed to make you feel uneasy. The metal rocks, but like with all quality doom, it is an acquired taste, especially if you want to get to the album’s medula.
Those who have no patience, nor the attention span will still get pummeled though, from the violent black metal start of “Uncreator” to the feedback tremors of “The Division”, Batillus' flavor of doom doesn’t shy away from grayer notes. “Deadweight” dies a transparent death and “The Division” gets all watery. This fucking massive boat doesn’t leak one drip.
Official Site
Read our interview with Batillus here…
Written by Ignacio Brown
