Sadness "Close" CD (Bonustrack)

2018 reissue of the album limited to 250 copies. Standard Jewelcase.
The bonus track "Carmen" is included.

Sadness isn’t a project that is reinventing the depressive black metal genre, this is a very typical album as far as the style is concerned but it’s also a very competent and enjoyable one at that. Sadness take a lot of cues from Trancelike Void, specializing in crafting long songs with an ethereally beautiful and depressive edge. Whilst this album isn’t going to sway those adverse to the genre to rally under its flags, for those who are already a fan there’s a lot to enjoy in this little release.
Like I mentioned earlier, Trancelike Void is a huge point of reference for this album, especially the Unveiling The Silent Arms Of Despair Release. The music is very post rock influenced, songs are long and winding with lots of build ups and come downs. The transitions are handled exceptionally well with the change between quieter acoustic sections to the louder black metal sections flowing seamlessly into each other. In fact this whole album is very free flowing and organic sounding with very little about the music on display feeling awkward or obtrusive.
The production on this album is AMAZING, easily some of the best I’ve yet encountered in the genre. The guitars have a very hazy tone to them and the vocals are pushed way, way back in the mix becoming another interest. The fuzzy nature of the recording gives the music room to breathe and the album feels very expansive, it’s a welcome change from a lot of claustrophobic depressive black metal.
The atmosphere on this album is very thick and depressive but at times veers dangerously close to melodrama. The vocals are the worst offender on this front, being a set of INCREDIBLY high pitched shrieks and wails which bring to mind Austere. Whilst I’m far from being against this vocal style, Sadness handle it with far less finesse than a lot of other bands, it’s a mercy that the vocals are so far pushed back otherwise they would have become unbearable. The emotion on this album is far from subtle either, with track titles such as “Sad” and “Useless” along with the name of the artist (easily one of the least creative band names I’ve heard in a while) it doesn’t take a lot of brain power to really get what this project is all about. Feelings of melancholy and heartbreak galore, and whilst I don’t think these set of emotions are inherently bad, I do wish that Sadness handled them with more care as opposed to being forced upon the listener.
Another complaint, though only a minor one at that, is that this release is just so typical of the genre. Not once do Sadness do anything unexpected, it’s all very safe and tidy, easy to digest music that doesn’t so much as stray from genre conventions as holds onto it for dear life. I guess that’s an unfair criticism to make though, it’s not like Sadness set out to be the next Pensées Nocturnes or what have you. This is pretty much by the books depressive black metal but luckily it’s one of my favourite books so I don’t really mind. I’ve found a lot to enjoy in this release and if given a chance I’m sure those reading this will find it too. The music on Close rises above a lot of the bedroom projects that pollute and stagnate the scene by being well written and memorable. Yes it’s not original and some of the atmosphere is a little hackneyed but all things considered this release is well worth your time for those looking for newer, depressive acts.

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