Senthil – Premeditation (2006)

This material is actually part of a split with Bosque, but I really don't care about the other half. Here we have Senthil's second release, and the first obvious thing about it is that they've cleaned up their sound. Gone is the recorded-in-basement-while-torturing-someone sound. The distortion on the guitars is much smoother, while the guitars themselves have been pushed further back in the mix. Drums are still a menacing presence, but likewise have been mixed in much better. Their trademark ululations are back with renewed vehemence. On the whole, this is what you'd expect of them with a more professional production. The progression here lies in subtle experimentation. Strange guitar sounds and ambient drones crawl through these two songs, rising to the surface momentarily to snatch bits of your mind away. Small touches, but when combined withe the better sound, the atmosphere becomes that much more engrossing.

Senthil have one more release after this (reviewed a while ago on the old PA.fm blog) that takes this new focus on low-key atmosphere even farther, adding prevalent synths to their increasingly polished sound. I'm hoping they keep going with that and move into even more ambient territory, since I can imagine them making some absolutely disturbing mindfucks in such a style, but the Premeditation songs remain my favourite thus far. The mix of urgency and atmosphere makes for a killer trip, one that extreme doom fans should not miss.

Verdict: Win [4/5]

Senthil – Crypticorifislit (2005)

Ahh, Senthil. Purportedly hailing from Texas, this mysterious group (now sans guitarist by suicide, supposedly) has built an image of pure torture. With claims of strangling themselves with chains while singing and sending out tape releases with blooded razors or bird's claws, their legacy puts them somewhere between Shining and Silencer. Ssss.

Now image is all nice and dandy, but what about the actual music? Happily enough, it doesn't stray far. Crypticorifislit lays down a fine groundwork for the suicidal black metal/funeral doom style that they have marginally changed on subsequent releases. The slow, repetitive guitars plod their way, albeit with more grit than their other work. Drums are ceaseless and simple, gaining tiny amounts of speed and urgency to lend tension as the song proceeds. Unique to this release is the use of a film sample (Irreversible, I believe) during an interlude that lends an almost snuff-like feel to it. But, there's now way around it – the vocals are the highlight of their style. Even if the whole chain deal is just a rumour, it most certainly sounds true at times. Demented and horrifying, the members of Senthil howl and screech from the recesses of sanity. Lyrics? I have no goddamn clue, but it's not necessary at all. This is the shapeless tongue of terror.

Verdict: Win