Photo Credit - Danika Zandboer
Canada’s Ischemic, purveyors of all things gloomy and dissonant are gearing up to release their second album, a self-titled full length, that is set to be one of the most crushing albums of the year.
The single “Scabs” is the first glimpse into the physically crushing sonic experience of “Ischemic”, which contains five heavy doom tracks with veils of melodic destitution weaved throughout. At 6 minutes in length, “Scabs” is a very long single, but gives ample time to immerse yourself in the pure 80s death-metal filth contrasted with crushing, doomy choruses and crusty black-metal leads, with a classically face-melting solo from Adam Korchok at its center. Ischemic comments on the upcoming release:
“We expect the album to be a fan favourite. The production is the perfect balance of polish and rawness and seems like the best representation of our live sound so far. These songs developed as a response to the more complex and melodic black metal sound on “Stagnation & Woe”. The tracks call back to the earliest days of the band, but with a decade of songwriting & touring experience under our belts.”
Crafted during lockdown, the listening experience through “Ischemic” is a trek through a haunted castle, every corner infested with isolation and creeping dread. Dungeon-crawling doom and sludge riffs are threaded together with creaking, subterranean passages of guitar ambiance and noise. Charging death-metal assaults relent to spell-casts of dizzying black metal. Their most DIY endeavor yet, all production, engineering, and artwork was handled by the band and close friends, resulting in this stripped-down but unrelenting collection of songs.
The intense, raw brutality of Ischemic is recommended for fans of Autopsy, Ahab, and Celtic Frost.
The single “Scabs” can be heard via its premiere on NoCleanSinging HERE .
The self-titled album is out on April 2, 2021.
Album pre-order - https://ischemic.bandcamp.com
Track Listing:
1. Scabs (6:38)
2. Crawl out of Hell (11:38)
3. Illusion of Humanity (11:03)
4. Scattering Garden (22:21)
Album Length: 51:42
Facebook.com/Ischemic
Instagram.com/ischemiccanada
About:
Ischemic formed in 2012 through the unholy power of Kijiji, where both Isabelle Tazbir (vocals/lyrics) and Adam Korchok (guitar) were searching for fellow ghouls to play some sort of doomy, monolithic death metal. They linked up and began to pull together people from their respective friend groups to play in the band. It wasn’t long before the lineup was solidified and Ischemic could begin churning out filthy, crushing metal from the void.
Ischemic works collaboratively, riff skeletons are brought to the rest of the members, then cursed with flesh. This cohesiveness has resulted in 4 recordings: “Frigid Descent” (2013); “All Paths Lead Nowhere” (2016); “Stagnation & Woe” (2018); and “Ischemic” (2021). The earlier records resonate with filthy, hellish, death/doom sounds that give way to experimentations in melodic black metal with “Stagnation & Woe”, and a revisit to the past in the most recent album.
The experienced musicians also lend their talents to other local acts; Tazbir has done time as a vocalist in the death metal bands Saprophyte, Serene Molestation, and Blastomycosis, and is currently in Experiment Specimen. Anthony Abbatangelo (bass) plays in the drone/psych band Qarafa and occasionally records and mixes projects for local bands. Mrudul Kamble (drums) fronts the progressive/death metal act Mors Verum and is working on launching a recording studio from his new home in Waterloo, ON.
The live show (post covid times) from Ischemic is both unsettling and energetic. What little light is permitted showcases disjointed, violent movements as Tazbir lures you into their tales of woe. They have shared the stage with the likes of Volur, Greber, Woe, Beyond Creation, and Iskra.
Ischemic’s new self-titled album is due out April 2, 2021.
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