Label: Unsigned/Independent
Origin: Dresden/Berlin, Germany
Wielding infernal command of the Earthly elements, Stiriah mercilessly scorches, drowns, and blinds the listener before tearing open their exhausted body to inject evil serum. Triple vocal styles exploring the full expanse of extreme metal deftly plait the 40+ minutes of Into the Depths together, and sly nods to various bands across the black metal spectrum keep the listener returning, battered and fried, for more.
The lead single, “The Water,” terrifies with a whispered “swept away by…” before a diabolically shrieked “flood!” signals a tsunami of chaos. Like the contaminated waters of death, riffs and percussion violently surge without respite behind a deluge of gutturals and growls. Blast-beating torrentially rains down on the scene, as the panicked listener double-kicks to shore for shelter. Near the end of the track, the floodwaters briefly subside, allowing ominous guitars to echo siren-like chords across the expansive sea. Throaty spoken word offers a variation in the piercing vocals, highlighting the skillful transition between styles that soaks through the entirety of Into the Depths.
The rain dissipates to allow glints of light to shine through second track, “The Sun.” The listener is greeted with warm guitars and minor chords overlaying the verses with burning precision. Seething growls overlap across the entire track, basking every blackened riff and charred blast in high-octane intensity. The overdriven vocal energy is accompanied by cosmic power chords, beaming interstellar rays through the molten, metallic core of the track.
Third track, “The Light Bearer,” initially hums along to a traditionally fast and austere black metal cadence. Supersonic blasting and otherworldly shrieking embody the mythical figure’s nascent impression, and a purposefully placed snare marches in rhythm alongside the lonesome ghoul. Suddenly the music stops cold, and a solitary riff ignites the Light Bearer’s torch in a single menacing gesture. With this newfound flame, the remainder of the track scalds the bewildered listener to a swelter, before quickly extinguishing in favor of fourth track, “The Darkness.” Atmospheric strings imprison taut percussion from all sides. Anguished cries brood malice interrupted only by a hissed growl of death. Instrumental mayhem unfolds before a higher-pitched cry prevails and lingers long into intermittent silence, while clean vocals in the background radiate elements of Ihsahn.
The Flesh (33:02 - 42:37) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZD-8jyWBPQ
Final (and standout) track, “The Flesh,” mulls malicious plasma from every demonic specter in the paralyzed patient’s open chest cavity. Ferocious chords erupt as gore spews from a fatal, infected wound. Violent shrieks spit acid on the laceration, while relentlessly consistent background riffs frantically pump blood to the lesion. Unholy howls bubble over the unfortunate soul, as toxic serum boils in a growing number of gashes. Decomposing riffs impede the mortal mending, and insatiably evil double growls continue to tear away decaying flesh. A brief, exquisite acoustic passage with spoken word and distorted strings echoes early Emperor, and provide a seamless transition into the final realm. After nearly ten minutes of lethal black metal dosage, angelic voices ethereally grasp the soul, whisking it away from its tormented carcass, and leaving the body to rot in perpetuity.
Into the Depths is a masterful exploratory distillation of black metal extract. The multitude of vocal deliveries combined with instrumentation spreading like a venereal disease commands an unrelenting listen. Before ruthlessly dissecting their victim in a nearly ten minute finale, Stiriah has cruelly force-fed a chocolate-box assortment of plagues to the listener and has tyrannically harnessed all the natural elements of evil.
FFO: Emperor, Wolves in the Throne Room, Inferi, Watain