DRAWN INTO DESCENT is an Atmospheric Black Metal band formed in Belgium in 2013. Following their self-titled debut release in 2015, they return with "The Endless Endeavor," which contains five tracks.

"Dystopia" lead off the attack, and it's a monster, at over eleven minutes in length. After just a brief warm up, the Black Metal sound is full on. The production is muffled to give it that organic, old-school sound. The vocals are agonizing screams, while the music takes a somber turn. After the half-way mark, it goes even deeper, with a crushing riff meant to draw the life from out one note at a time. The sound drops off for just a moment until returning with new vigor. "Wither" is close to the same length, but with a bit more vigor out of the gates. The chord progressions are fascinating here...vacillating back and forth between hope and despair, locked in a mortal battle like a mongoose and a cobra. The extended instrumental section toys with your emotions like some great puppet master in the sky, holding the strings to your most scared feelings.

"Death" is considerably shorter, at only five minutes in length. Solemn and doleful clean guitars reach the recesses of your mind and plant themselves there, firmly. Almost Post Rock in nature, it follows a simple riff as atmosphere builds in the background. Everything sounds cold and bleak. There is beauty to find in the darkness, you just have to open your eyes. "...Embrace Me" hears the anguished screams return in a mid-tempo number. Around the half-way mark, the sound drops into a slow descent, with just clean guitars, and a little bass and drums to pepper the landscape. It returns with distorted guitars and more screams which takes it to completion.

"The Endless Endeavor" closes the album. It opens with somber clean guitars with a bit of reverb in them, and this spine-chilling feeling that something lurks in the darkness that you cannot see. The Death vocals start low and roll to a scream that seems to last for eternity. It starts to pick up steam and you are moving forward steadily unconcerned about what lies ahead. Screams come at you in waves as you close your ears and run blindly, until the sound just stops.

Overall, I was very impressed with this album as a whole. Within the genre of Black Metal, there can be so much diversity. It's the feeling and emotions that they nail so well here. It has depth and character, and will chill you like the cold winds of winter, blowing mercilessly against your exposed skin, as you wander the afterlife for eternity.