DRIFT INTO BLACK is a doom metal band based in New Jersey who formed in 2017 by Craig Rossi (ex-GREY SKIES FALLEN). The band was actually a one-man project initially but has expanded with Paul LaPlaca (OCTOBER THORNS) on bass/guitar and Klemen Markelj (BIPOLAR DISORDER, OBIDIL) on drums. After delving into sci-fi realms on their previous full-length album, 2022’s “Earthtorn,” the band’s next adventure was opened ended. Craig and the gang decided to double down on the doom—I find “Voices Beneath The Rubble,” to be more melancholic, depressing, and a bigger statement of the state of the world and the humans who live on it.

While there is no doubt the album upholds their standards of doom, the band, DRIFT INTO BLACK continue to embrace other elements including traditional heavy metal, Gothic, and progressive. It is a dynamic sound that makes “Voices Beneath The Rubble” their most varied album to date even while being doomier than a doomy thing. Once again, Craig opted to write a concept for this album. This concept feels a lot more personal and familiar than the events of “Earthtorn.” I haven’t experienced anything that happens in the album but what I mean is the story echoes a lot of what is happening in our world today. Not just war but just the way humans seem to be caught up in a lot of misery and bleakness. The album’s story follows the tragedy of a war, centering on how the resulting damage hurts people who are caught in between the carnage. A Savior builds a machine to save the planet but is torn between doing what is right and wrong. The songs bring out the story with a lot of depth and, I don’t want to give anything away about the details, but the suffering presented in the story is tragic and profound, echoing much of not only what people are going through but also how the human race seems to be feeling.

In Craig’s own words: “I see this album as a narration of the world’s demise. The theme and subject align with exactly what we are seeing around this slowly dying planet. We are our own worst enemies.” I want to give a special mention to the production. How an album can, of course, make a great album bad but this album’s production pushes it to the next level. It compliments the atmosphere and the songwriting, boosting the entire performance of the band. The sound is organic, a very natural flow which cascades down to the very fabric of the songwriting. One of the biggest aspects of the album, in terms of comparing to their previous four, is Craig’s vocals are all clean. That isn’t to say they can’t be rough but there are no actual death growls. This change was in response to a challenge from their drummer Klemen—there is no doubt that Craig met and exceeded this challenge to do an entire album in cleans. I won’t like…I definitely miss his growls but it's hard to complain about their absence when Craig’s vocals are this damn good. With every album, DRIFT INTO BLACK grow into a better band but on an individual level, Craig’s vocals get better and better.

The album opens with “The Horns Of Despair,” which is the best intro track the band has done so far. It’s ominous enough to build up tension and prepare the listener for the rest of the album but it’s so not so oppressive that it lacks epic vibrancy. Soon as the intro ends, “In Turmoil,” begins. Dark melodies and heavy riffs create the atmosphere needed for a song with such a title. Craig’s vocals are lower in the begging, matching the tone of the music. As the energy ramps, his voice begins to shine through as one of many catchy choruses throughout the album hits like a ton of bricks. The melodies are perfect for the rhythm, helping to build a moody flow. After the halfway point, guest vocalist ALYXX llends her beautiful and theatrical voice to the song adding a whole new layer of tragedy. There is a proggy solo right afterwards and the melodic bass that makes it all up is fantastic.

The title track opens with clean guitar and some flavorful drumming, showcasing that each member can play any style they wish and always make it fit the band’s vision. The riffs in this song are fantastic, a harmonious blend of melodic sorrowful and despotic heaviness. The drums are particularly impressive, giving the song just what it needs to fit into the overall scheme but also bringing a style all their own. Craig’s singing “we pray to the skies but nobody answers,” is expressive as it is chilling. At the 3:20 mark, the band kicks into overdrive: the drums crash and barreling through while a guitar solo and bass melds with sweeping keys. The first song that really grabbed me on the album is “Forever King,” it remained my favorite for some time. The intricate riffs offer shades of sharpened shadows against crunch rhythms. The chorus is great, rough but pairing fantastically against the subtle keys. The keyboard solo is special, another proggy element that never seems out of place against the doom and gloom. The bass guitar and double bass work in tandem to boost the riffs into an oppressive atmosphere, exemplifying the lyrical concept.

And now we come to the masterful “What’s Left In The Fire.” This is my favorite song on the album and quite possibly the best song the band has ever written. The atmosphere in the opening moments is sullen, depressing…both heartfelt and tragic. The simple but clean piano against the backdrop of subtle but sweeping keys and Craig’s gentle vocals is majestic. When ALYXX’s vocals arrive and the tempo begins to pick up….wow, just chills, literal chills. The rest of the song is sweltering heavy guitar with the other instruments matching the intensity. In the final moments, clean keys lay down their tapestry while ALYXX croons, “Nothing survives,” just before a beautiful solo glides into the fog. This is a true dirge of doom metal and I could write a whole page about this one.

The song ends with the ballad “December,” and it’s the audio equivalent of someone shitting in your cheerios. It’s just so depressing and bleak, much like winter in December tends to be. This song was a great choice for ending the album because after it’s over, I just kind of felt numb from the emotional experience I just had. The song remains gentle but stark before getting heavy around the 3:20 mark. When Craig says “Santa Claus is dead now…there is no Christmas in heaven….” it's painful and devoid of all light. All in all, DRIFT INTO BLACK have outdone themselves with “Voices Beneath The Rubble.” With every album, I feel they are getting closer and closer to releasing a masterpiece. This album has brought them to the edge and I can’t wait to take the plunge with them.