From Bandcamp, "Axis Mundi" marks the return of TARLUNG: Five years after the success of "Architect", TARLUNG are back with eight tracks of heavy riffs, chugging rhythm and fierce growls. "Axis Mundi" shows the world as it is today: Becoming more chaotic and more out of line every day. It ponders the question how one might maintain one's sanity under such circumstances. Until one day the "Axis Mundi" bursts. Once again, TARLUNG unleashes nasty in your face sludge/doom, but don't shy away from some more experimental features, and even moments of contemplation within the chaos – only to return with more honest brutality." The album has eight tracks, and "Static Noise" is first. A slow, fuzzy, and groovy riff leads off the song. The vocals might be the best part of the song…they are harsh, but near whispers, and they have a distinct snarl to them.

"The Valley of Nowhere" begins with clean guitar that segues into another slow riff of doom. The time, the vocals rise with some rage and anger. It lumbers across the frozen tundra like a wooly mammoth in search of food. "Burning Out" hears the tides shift a bit, and some more melody comes through. It sounds like ALICE IN CHAINS without the vocal harmonies. The pacing steadily increases throughout the song. "Sea of Drowned Souls" features some of those contemplative tones the band talked about. There is a passage of clean vocal harmonies that calm everything down from the towering riffs. "Swans" has a distinct groove to it, and the horrid vocals return once more. The riffing is fairly simple, but you don't need overly complication guitars in a song like this.

"Full Circle" moves with a swing, and the vocals rise. The riff almost dances at times, and it creates a catchy sound that you can easily groove along with. "Between Earth and Moon" has some hypnotic leads to go along with the dirty, filthy riffs. The title track is the final offering, and the fuzzy riff sounds like a slime covered slug crawling forward. It seems to grow more desperate as it moves. Overall, this was a solid album. The title means "representing a symbolic, vertical axis connecting heaven, earth, and the underworld. It acts as a sacred, central pillar or portal." Themes mentioned in their bio match the music quite well. The music is slow, filthy sounding, and apocalyptic in some senses…and reminds you that the world is actually a fucked place.