Dybbuk

Catafalque

From Bandcamp, “Dybbuk” is an extreme and abrasive album that marries the exhaustive and overwhelming […]
November 17, 2023

From Bandcamp, “Dybbuk” is an extreme and abrasive album that marries the exhaustive and overwhelming qualities of old school Doom Metal with the harsh textures and frequencies found in Noise and Industrial. The album has four songs. “Manifestation” is first. It’s a short mood-setter for the album. A lot of pent up noise is bubbling in the background, ready to be unleashed. It crescendos, but is never released. The 13-minute “Infestation” is next. Again, noise is raised in the background, followed by a nasty, fuzzy riff. There is a slow build from there, with more and more instrumentation…first drums, then bass, then vocal screams. The intensity of the build-up is impressive, and it increases throughout the song. The drums create a marching, hypnotic feeling that is close to the “fight or flight” reflex.

“Oppression” begins much the same way, but eerie vocal moans appear amidst the steady white noise. Mixing in are other harrowing elements, though some are hard to nail down. A plodding, heavy riff breaks the monotony, with steps as heavy as a mastodon. The doom sound is more pronounced in this song, and the vocal screams sound like they are coming from someone who is being tortured. “Possession” closes the album. A fuzzy riff grows in the background, like spores of mold on bread. Again, drums lead the build-up of tension, which is finally released when the mammoth riff is realized. From there, the riff plods like a beast walking the frozen tundra of Antarctica, before disappearing into the horizon.

Overall, I like the combination of Doom with Noise and Industrial elements presented on the album. What the band probably does best is creating tension with the songs. Tension makes the listener have to tune in harder, waiting for what comes next. Next to that, their gargantuan riffs are second in line. It’s funny…riff based Metal has all but vanished in a lot of genres, but not Doom…and these riffs are as thick and meaty as they are dreadful.

 

 

8 / 10

Excellent

Songwriting

8

Musicianship

7

Memorability

9

Production

8
"Dybbuk" Track-listing:

1. Manifestation

2. Infestation

3. Oppression

4. Possession

 

Catafalque Lineup:

Unknown

 

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