Faceless and Descending - Endless Reign of Suffering (2009)

Faceless and Descending is another of those one man black metal projects with the ability to craft soaring, amazing melodies that last with the listener long after the album ends. If you enjoyed the recent, masterful albums of Onirik and Midnight Odyssey, this is well worth checking out. Not to mention, Carlos (Breath of Sorrows) is operating out of Nevada...just how many black albums have you heard from the Silver State, and of this quality? Could Nevada be the next France? Norway?

I can't answer that, but Endless Reign of Suffering is surely a fine way to dim down a sunlit afternoon, to summon forth the grim melancholy of your soul and mope about in the misery of regret. The formula is a simple one, create depressive patterns through repetitious rhythm guitars, add the bleeding melodies of longing, anchor the above with a drum machine, and smother the results in horrific, tormented vocals and atmosphere. It's a successful pattern yet again. "Bones and Dust" opens with some keyboards that cast a Medieval, folk shadow before the glorious, charging melody hovering around the minute mark. There are no vocals to this track, but its doomlike swaggering bridge and the opening riff are enough to last us until "Thy Virulent Maw", in which Carlos' unruly maw spews forth a wall of aural chaos. "Denial Through Mockery", another instrumental, features another of those sad, glorious melodies which repeats itself until you are fresh out of tears. "Endless Reign of Suffering" has a malicious lead-in rhythm with an excellent change up. Other killers on this album include the majestic "Mutilation and the Divine", the sad "Scourge", and the searing "Vitriolic".

Endless Reign of Suffering is bathed in that homespun, turbulent production which provides much of the strength and atmosphere. It's oppressive but tasteful. What I love about this album is that, despite the hopelessness of the compositions, there is a gentle light which permeates all the tracks, makes you think, despite the overwhelming weight of your regrets, your spirit may still find rest. Highly recommended to salve your emotional turmoil, and ground you in the dust.

Verdict: Epic Win [9/10]

http://www.myspace.com/facelessanddescending