Semănat turns over only three, relatively condensed tracks on “Duobė” in an unethically limited run of 30 copies. But what it lacks in volume (amount) is made up for tenfold in volume (loudness). A short, battery acid shot with menacing endurance, leaving bitter tastes you can’t wash from your mouth. Semănat probed the fields of drone, black metal, and ambient sound structures and returned with a dense cache.
At just under eight minutes, Duobė I coats the A side like a lacquer. Bleached-white guitar riffs exist in a panic-free void, uncoiling in an immutable, reliable attack. Hovering in arms reach above a fog of drones, thumps, and injured vocals. It’s with absolute reverence to grey scale scenery and poorly manicure historical battle sites that Semănat pours this poison. Side B is a speck less pessimistic, but still dangles on the building’s ledge. Slightly sped up, Duobė II sustains the gear-like progression of ashen doom, allowing in a negligible dose of stunted vibrancy. The room continues to spin, bringing the listener closer and closer to a much needed vomit. Duobė III acts as an outro. A 120 second dram of thunder and dragging karma.
“Duobė” may be undersized, but it’s deficit of comfort is massive. It may just end up sucking all joy from surrounding tapes in your collection, so be cautious where you store it. But first, buy it from III Arms!
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