Withered - Folie Circulaire
Prosthetic Records - 10059-2 - 24 June 2008
By Paddy Walsh
Although a fleeting listen to
Withered's second release (and 1st on Prosthetic) throws obvious nods to punk/grind roots,
Folie Circulaire is a deceptively eclectic work that commands repeated listens. Beneath the rather crusty (but no less meaty) production lie a slew of influences, from grindcore, black metal right through to the likes of
Neurosis and back again. Mike Thompson and Chris Freeman share both guitar and vocal duties, and the latter veer between feral barking and blackened rasps, with each track offering an almost seamless transition between styles.
'Gnosis Unveils' is an early highlight, showcasing the band's aptitude for genre-bending as a deluge of
Isis-inspired slow guitars eventually explode into swathes of lumbering riffs before winding right back down to where it began. Closer 'Into Armageddon' begins straighforwardly enough with a swashbuckling speedy black metal intro in the vein of latter-day
Keep of Kalessin that descends into brutal death metal territory and lurches right back out again. Thus the aural theme of
Folie Circulaire could be said to be its penchant for 'build and release' tension, as the prerequisite moments of blistering fury are usually tempered by something a little more measured. The songwriting isn't perfect throughout, with moments of filler to be found, but it's certainly more hit than miss. With
Folie Circulaire, Withered have marked themselves as a band to watch. They certainly can't be faulted for ambition, and although they haven't quite nailed it yet they came pretty damned close.
Official Withered Website
Official Withered MySpace
Official Prosthetic Records Website
