Album Review: II by Endless Floods

Our initial thought that we’d ease ourselves into 2017 reviews with Endless Floods’ 3 track album II were quickly dismissed when we discovered it was actually a 45 plus doom epic. Released this January 6th on vinyl format via Dry Cough Records and Fvtvrecordings, and on cassette tape via Breathe Plastic Records, you’ll find this to be quite the challenging and imposing listen.

Hailing from Bordeaux, France, the doom three-piece formed in 2015 as a side-project by members of Monarch!. With a strong will to keep “no boundaries in heaviness” as a motto, the band raise an extra-thick wall of sound by blending the darkest sides of doom, the filthy and gloomy vibe of sludge and the mind-expanding structures of ambient metal. It’s a record that at times feels like it’ll suffocate you in its heaviness, before the ambient / post metal elements come in to let the listener breathe and recuperate from the onslaught.

24-minute opener ‘Impasse’ plays the Jekyll and Hyde part to aplomb. You’re eased into the record with a slow riff building into a hybrid of sludge metal heaviness with post-metal dynamics before the track nears the 10-minute mark and veers into altogether heavier and doomier tones. What was almost serine turns into something completely opposite with deathly heaviness and a bellowing vocal that resonates to the bone. It plays in a stark contrast that works wonderfully. Just as you’re getting into the groove of the seemingly limitless barrage of doom guitars the track goes so ambient metal that it’s barely there. Minimal to the core. While your attention may wander slightly you’ll be rewarded with some fine soaring post-metal guitars at the 20-minute mark.

‘Passage’ acts as a short and gentle interlude before ‘Procession’ opens with its blisteringly heavy doom washed riffs before developing into bleak post-metal atmospherics. As you should expect by now the track takes many turns from ambient to sludge to doom to expansive dynamics. The undercurrent is constantly bleak and you feel as if the world is falling down around you. Mark my words, this is an extremely powerful and commanding track – most will probably find this too much of challenge, persevere and you’ll be rewarded with some the most haunting and emotive music you’ll have experienced.

AD Rating 8/10