Withering Soul
Passage of the Arcane
Liminal Dread Productions
14 November 2025
When a new Withering Soul album arrives, it calls for repeated listening. Active since 1999, this American band from the Chicago area consistently delivers quality songwriting that only reveals itself in full over time, a characteristic exemplified by their fifth and latest effort. On this new release, their sound is black and death metal, characterized by speed, intense melody, and subtle progressive elements. The growled vocals are notably enunciated, clear, deep, and sustained, carrying a distinct black metal intensity in the long-lasting screams. This sound could be described as melodic black metal fused with an aggressive American death metal production, for brutality, speed, and melodic depth.
It is clear that black metal is a crucial component, shaping the melodies, the drumming style, and a significant portion of the riffs. However, Withering Soul rejects the "garage" or low-fidelity aesthetic often associated with certain black metal acts. Conversely, they also avoid the "boring" aspects of death metal, such as generic growling, simple chugging, faceless guitar work, and overall minimal-effort songwriting. They take the best elements of both genres, the melodic complexity and intensity of black metal, and the clarity of modern death metal for their unique musical vision.
The album, featuring an intro and seven songs totaling 41 minutes, provides substantial value to the listener. The band has clearly worked hard to deliver songwriting that can withstand the test of time. The combination of American and European characteristics, along with the amalgamation of various time periods (the 1990s and 2000s) within their sound, makes for an engaging and dynamic listen. Listeners can be confident that they are receiving a work put together not just with serious effort, but with demonstrable skill. Two quick clarifications: First, there are no clean, melodic vocals on this album. Second, regarding the lyrics, I have not seen the official text, but my understanding is that the band explores themes related to the paranormal, such as town legends of unexplained disappearances or myths surrounding local spectral sightings.
https://www.facebook.com/witheringsoulband
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