none-inevitable-reviews

Review from Blasted by Britton

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 18:12:51 +0100

From: Blasted by Britton

Published: December 20, 2024

My second review from a batch of CD’s that Hypnotic Dirge Records sent to me keeps things rolling along with more outstanding music. I believe this is a one man project hailing from Portland, Oregon, USA. I’ve never been there. Michigan is a long way. But I know a guy from there that likes to wear pens behind his ear to look cool. He’s a cool guy. Beard, tall… you know all that Northwestern U.S. stuff. Let me shut my yapper and dive into this and see what we have, shall we?

“Inevitable” really reminds me of that late 90’s/early 00’s Northwestern Black Metal that had its own unique sound. Agalloch is the big band in that genre, and they also are from Portland. The music here is reminiscent, but it definitely has its own sound. Slow, depressive and melancholy guitars, bass and drums all played very professionally. At times the music dwindles to almost pure acoustic or ambient music that lulls me into a contemplative state. This is phenomenal stuff. Once in a while the music is faster, but rarely gets past mid-temp. This is not upbeat music, and it’s not intended to be. Don’t expect it to cheer you up.

I try to use Metal Archives as little as possible, but sometimes it can’t be helped. It says there under the band member section… “None”. I’m sure that means the info is unavailable, but it could be the band member’s stage name as that’s the band name as well. Either way, he has an excellent vocal delivery which is slower a paced Black Metal style like the music is. There are some great whispered vocals as well. I’ll say it again; I love this album! Metal Archives came to the rescue with lyrical content. They are not printed in the CD booklet, so seeing this was from Portland and that there was nature photography for the album cover, I assumed the lyrics were about nature like a lot of those older albums from there were about, but apparently, they are about misery, grief and alcoholism. I don’t know if he’s pro alcoholism or anti, but I had my demons with it and am now almost a year sober.

The production is great, and I could find anything wrong with the sound quality of the album.

The cover art, like I mentioned above, is a black and white photo of the deep woods. Either this forest was burned, or the photo was taken in winter. Maybe it’s a tree disease as the evergreens have no needles. It’s haunting to look at and sets the mood for the album well. Inside of the digipak has a photo of the band member, with his face etched out and the back panel has more photography and a tracklist. There is no album info at all. Sneaky!

None has a few more full-length albums out I need to get a hold of because “Inevitable” rules. If I’d have heard this last year when it came out it would have made my Top 10 list. Very good job to all involved and I hope to see more albums in the future!

Rating: 10/10

Review from Metal Italia

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 16:14:37 +0100

From: Metal Italia

Published: September 24, 2023

Original Link

Sarebbe pressoché lapalissiano chiedere ai None a cosa si riferiscano con quell’”Inevitable” del titolo. Gli americani – di Portland, Oregon – si nutrono di tristezza e sono uno dei gruppi di punta, di puro culto, della label canadese Hypnotic Dirge. Ne sostengono il roster di affilata malinconia e ne sono propriamente, al di là degli anni di militanza nelle loro file, l’esemplificazione più esaustiva di quale sia la filosofia della label.

Una realtà, quella dei None, con un suo zoccolo duro di fan nell’underground internazionale, frutto di uscite solide, innestate torbidamente nel filone depressive: un regno all’interno del quale non si presentano come innovatori o coloro che lo portano a un altro livello, ma ne sanno riportare perfettamente tutto il carico di intensa disperazione. E lo hanno fatto, finora, attingendo a piene mani tanto dal doom, quanto dal black metal, sfoderando un’indole sofferente che all’abituale autocommiserazione tipica del genere sa aggiungere un minimo di dinamismo e una cura melodica e armonica di rilievo.

Approdiamo dunque a “Inevitable”, quarto album in circa sei anni per la formazione – chi ne faccia parte, che faccia abbiano, non è dato sapersi – uscita che non ne smuove chissà quanto l’impianto sonoro, ne va piuttosto a limare alcuni aspetti e rinfocolare altri, per un altro rosario di canzoni da sorbire – meglio, subire – con tutta calma.

Nell’avvicendarsi di crepitanti cascate elettriche e arpeggiati toccanti di “Never Came Home” si fa presto apprezzare il maggior peso di temi cari al post-black metal e al black metal atmosferico più arioso: si spandono infatti fragranti arie di black metal ‘cascadico’ e rasoiate vicine agli Harakiri For The Sky, a colorire di un’emotività meno uniforme l’insieme, in una miscellanea che non porta turbamenti, ma arricchisce invece di nuove sfumature i sentimenti afflitti della band.

Come nei precedenti capitoli della sua storia, questo manipolo di misteriosi musicisti ama discorsi ampi e ciclici, all’interno dei quali sviluppare nuovi spunti attraverso un processo di aggiunta rispetto a un granitico filone principale.

Mai troppo articolati sul piano ritmico – anzi, decisamente scarni e lineari, da questo punto di vista – i None amano pennellare di screziata, ruvida malinconia la loro proposta, annerendo le tonalità chitarristiche senza sfociare in gelida disperazione. I richiami alla solitaria, austera bellezza della natura invernale, evocata dalle immagini solitamente prescelte nelle copertine, emerge anche all’interno dei dischi e “Inevitable” non fa eccezione: l’inerme dilatarsi di alcuni frammenti, dominati da flebili, dimesse note di tastiera, e il candore degli arpeggiati portano la mente verso ecosistemi non antropizzati, solitari, con un grado di evocatività di tali situazioni davvero apprezzabile.

Le pause dal sapore ambient, con una punta di drone, che vanno a ritagliarsi spazi importanti tra “My Gift” e “Locked, Empty Room” si saldano poi a suggestive inflessioni post-rock, che hanno il merito sia di variare il tono musicale dell’opera, sia di darle un gusto cinematografico coerente allo sfaccettato mood malinconico generale.

Ascoltando per bene l’album nella sua interezza, senza prendersi pause di respiro, se ne apprezza meglio il disegno complessivo: dal punto di vista di rabbia, energia e tormento, si va digradando, perdendosi poco per volta nella quiete. Un’accettazione del dolore che toglie, in ultimo, la voglia di combattere. I None non hanno forse caratteristiche davvero ‘speciali’ che possano farli diventare un gruppo dai consensi più ampi di quelli ottenuti finora, ciò nonostante il loro percorso artistico rimane ragguardevole e anche con “Inevitable” sono riusciti a dare una rinfrescata alla loro formula. Per gli amanti del filone depressive black metal, un’uscita da non trascurare.

Rating: 7.5/10

Reviewed by: Giovanni Mascherpa

Review from RTMB Music

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 16:58:17 +0100

From RTMB Music

Published: August 3, 2023

Original Link

El pasado 12 de junio, la banda estadounidense NONE lanzó al mercado su más reciente trabajo titulado ‘Inevitable’. NONE es una banda cuyo estilo musical se tambalea entre lo atmosférico y lo depresivo. NONE ha lanzado tres discos de larga duración en su carrera, (2017 “None” / 2018 “Life Has Gone on Long Enough” y en 2019 “Damp Chill of Life”), NONE ha regresado finalmente con su cuarto y más reciente álbum titulado ‘Inevitable’.

Con 6 canciones y poco más de 56 minutos de duración, es el álbum más largo de la discografía de NONE hasta la fecha. En ‘Inevitable’ la música es más oscura que nunca que ofrece un festín de black que, al igual que sus tres predecesores, este disco camina por la línea entre el Depressive y el Atmospheric Black Metal, tambaleándose de un lado a otro entre los dos campos, pero centrándose siempre en transmitir una sensación de miseria desesperada y paralizante en forma sónica.

Añade a esto un elemento de miseria empapada de doom, y tienes el último álbum de NONE en toda su sombría gloria, pero también más escalofriantemente bella. Como era de esperar, el tiempo pasa más lento de lo normal cuando se trata de discos de sangre fría como éste, y la banda genera una atmósfera desalentadora durante el tiempo que dura ‘Inevitable’, junto con frecuentes pasajes ambientales y lúgubres líneas de guitarra limpias que interconectan diferentes partes de las pistas, mostrando como NONE sobresale en la fluidez del álbum. Desde una fragilidad suave y delicada hasta imponentes muros de brillante distorsión ennegrecida, NONE elabora envolventes paisajes sonoros de desesperanza y pérdida que, de algún modo, suenan fortalecedores en su desesperación. Al escuchar Inevitable los sentimientos tangibles de angustia y dolor son catárticos, permitiendo al oyente atravesar por las atmósferas ricamente depresivas, emergiendo al otro lado mejor por haber experimentado la intensidad de sus profundidades emotivas.

El tema con el que abre el disco, "Never Came Home", atrae al escucha inmediato con su sombrío tono de guitarra, cada movimiento de las cuerdas sonando como lágrimas que caen. Esto continuó durante un par de minutos, envolviendo con una falsa sensación de dulzura y tranquila seguridad antes de que el asalto agravado de blast beats y guitarras ruidosas resonara en los oídos. A pesar de lo ruidosa que se volvió la instrumentación, la tristeza y desesperación se mantienen por encima de todo con su ritmo sombrío hasta que se ralentizó de nuevo en un paisaje sonoro melancólico.

Tras el increíble despliegue inicial, "Alone, Where I Can See" parte directamente de la primera pista, inicia con un gruñido inhumano que inmediatamente me cautivó, después se desenvuelve casi como una sinfonía con múltiples movimientos. La canción se transforma en una grotesca capa de black metal instrumental casi crudo con una áspera vocalización por debajo que resuena y se entierra dentro de tu cráneo. AL momento de que la canción va llegando a su fin, lo hace con otro paisaje sonoro espacial y atmosférico, transportándonos al siguiente movimiento de esta sinfonía.

La 3er canción del material "A Reason to Be" nos da la bienvenida con otra suave introducción de varios minutos, que de alguna manera se las arregla para transformarse en algo aún más duro, aún más rápido, pasando inmediatamente de las suaves cuerdas punteadas a un torrente de sonidos, una ráfaga tan caótica que tiene la capacidad de sacar al oyente de sus casillas. Aparte de la fuerza musical de esta canción (y el riff increíblemente pegadizo que suena a lo largo de toda la canción), el verdadero momento destacado de este tema es su emotiva y deprimente voz. En este momento se convierte en gritos de agonía casi constantes.

"My Gift", es el cuarto tema, consta de seis minutos de pura palabra hablada como si estuvieran recitando acompañado de un suave piano. Está canción no cuenta con guitarras duras ni chirridos estridentes ya que nos guía suavemente a través de palabras que a veces son difíciles de entender debido a algunos efectos inquietantes, efectos que me parecieron interesantes, pero que en su mayor parte pueden resumirse en una persona que desconfía de todos, que está aterrorizado y/o decepcionado de todo, una persona que odia al mundo y se odia a si misma". A pesar de ser la canción más suave hasta el momento, "My Gift" se las arregla al mismo tiempo para ser la más pesada emocionalmente esto se lo puedo adjudicar al hecho de que estas palabras sean habladas en lugar de cantadas.

El quinto tema, "Locked, Empty Room", puede ser el más extraño del todo el trabajo. Son otros nueve minutos enteros de piano. Las palabras "Te quiero, te echo de menos" se repiten una y otra vez por una voz que parece llorar mientras la respiración de fondo se hace cada vez más fuerte. Esto continúa durante varios minutos, y al final, la persona que repite las palabras está definitivamente llorando, y la persona que respira empieza a sonar como si se estuviera ahogando. El hecho de que algo tan simple como unas notas de piano, un monólogo repetido y una respiración agitada puedan tener tal impacto es un testimonio del arte de NONE y de su dominio del sonido que han creado.

El tema final, "Rest", destaca entre los demás por su tono casi triunfante y épico, con la esperanza filtrándose tras la tristeza del esfuerzo anterior. Durante los últimos minutos, el tono cambia bruscamente, con la vuelta del piano y las lágrimas, estallando en otra erupción de sonidos metálicos que conducen a una sección de la canción en la que el vocalista enuncia mucho más, y las palabras deprimentes vuelven de nuevo.

Por esa razón, creo que Inevitable es un buen trabajo de Depressive Black Metal, con una atmósfera inquietante ya que NONE sigue elevando su sonido. Es doloroso y lúgubre, ya que NONE mantiene su sufrimiento por el bien de su esencia. Es un buen trabajo, una gran obra, que traspasa los límites de cómo se pueden tejer historias utilizando ambientaciones y con ello llevar al oyente a un viaje de dolor y tristeza. Éste puede ser el álbum que defina la carrera de NONE y sin duda es un álbum que volvería a escuchar no contiene ninguna pretensión y el escucha obtendrá lo que busca.

Rating: 9/10

Reviewed by: Alberto Dlr

Review from Angry Metal Guy

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 17:11:31 +0100

From: Angry Metal Guy

Published: July 10, 2023

Original Link

Were you to look up the Pacific Northwest’s NONE on Metal Archives because, you know, you wanted to find out something about them, you’d be disappointed. A picture with the faces scratched out, a list of members stated, appropriately enough, as “(none).” The promo materials from NONE’s label, Hypnotic Dirge, tell me that the band is “anonymous” and has “no social media presence.” OK, I get it, these guys aren’t in this for the fame, money, and sex. Fine. For those of you already familiar with NONE this will come as no surprise. The band’s sole focus is sucking all signs of happiness, light and, quite possibly, life out of any space their music is projected into. That includes my brain, as my headphones beam the follow-up to 2019’s Damp Chill of Life into my skull.

With their fourth full-length, Inevitable, NONE stick to this game plan. Saying that Inevitable is “bleak” is like saying that the Pacific is “quite large” or that British rail infrastructure (on which I currently find myself) is “not what it once was.” It simply fails to capture the scale of your subject matter. Like its three predecessors, this record walks the line between DSBM and atmoblack, wobbling back and forth between the two camps but with the focus always on conveying a sense of hopeless and crippling misery in sonic form. NONE approaches its mission in several different ways. However, whether it’s the tortured shrieks and heavily distorted guitars of opener “A Reason to Be” and “Alone, Where I Can See” or the nine minutes of ambient synths and sparse, delicate keys, with occasional distant sobbing of “Locked, Empty Room,” the result is the same.

Inevitable is a stripped-back record, where big empty spaces of emotion and yawning chasms of minimalism do a lot of the work. Of course, this is nothing new for NONE (go listen to “Corroded” from Life has Gone on Long Enough, for example) but it feels like the band turned this particular dial up to 11 and then thought, “you know what, fuck it, let’s go to 12.” Even where NONE does utilize the more classic DSBM and atmoblack tropes of distended chords drowning in reverb and static, paired with those soul-rending screams, the melodic seams that used to permeate these scenes like the veins in a marble slab are now largely gone. Compare the desert of devastation that is Inevitable’s closer, “Rest,” with the likes of the title track or “It’s Painless to Let Go” from Damp Chill of Life to get a sense of this. By largely separating the harsh desperation from the ambient hopelessness, NONE’s creation feels as empty and black as their collective chest undoubtedly is. “A Reason to Be” is the exception to the rule here, as NONE ups the tempo a bit and reaches further into the atmoblack pool than across the rest of the record, as churning guitars and pounding drums propel it along.

Inevitable is, in one sense, everything you’d expect from NONE. There are no surprises here and that’s fine. Certain bands you listen to for the moods they are able to evoke through the scant soundscapes they conjure. However, on this record, the band has out-NONEed itself. By dialing back the use of the harsher edges of their sound, largely dispensing with any of those subtle, yearning melodies and isolating Inevitable’s sprawling ambient soundscapes, NONE has left itself too much to do. To put it another way, where the frozen atmosphere used to be the output derived from the components of the band’s sound, now it sometimes feels like the atmosphere is both an input and an output, with the actual music just a by-product.

The production is everything you’d expect: reverb and feedback-heavy, with distant-sounding vocals and percussion, creating a smothering canopy that envelops you. However, running to nearly an hour in length, there just isn’t enough material on Inevitable to fill the album’s middle sections. Cuts like “My Gift” and “Locked, Empty Room” don’t do enough to justify their runtime, while their shortcomings are thrown into stark relief when set against the opening duo of “Never Came Home” and “Alone, Where I Can See” and the excellent closer, “Rest”. That’s not to say this is poor album. It isn’t and it’s worthy of your time if this is a style that appeals to you. But, compared to the last two records, NONE have got a little lost in their own desert of despair. Perhaps that was always Inevitable.

Rating: 2.5/5

Reviewed by: Carcharodon

Review from Ave Noctum

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 17:10:11 +0100

From: Ave Noctum

Published: July 3, 2023

Original Link

There are none better than None at leading us down dark atmospheric paths, something this anonymous Portland based collective have been doing admirably over four albums. Having been slumbering since they last froze us with ‘The Damp Chill Of Life’ back in 2019 they are back with another absorbing album ‘Inevitable,’ prepare to be tinged with a rich tapestry of music and emotions.

Running at near an hour with a continuous flow but divided into six lengthy songs or chapters, this reads a bit like a book and leads us through passages seeped in the miseries and futility of existence. Opener ‘Never Came Home’ gives us a template of softly plucked acoustic guitar melody suddenly thrust into heavier blackened furrows as vocals move from whispers to rage and screams. Has somebody waited for their partner to come back home and discovered they are never to return, what tragedy has occurred, betrayal or perhaps murder? Maybe they are buried amidst the trees of the cover-art? These are questions you will no doubt linger on as the story unfolds. There are long ponderous passages here and clues are just song titles as the music takes us through now empty rooms where all that lingers are the ghosts and memories of happier times. Perhaps our now alone narrator is still there, left in bleak abandonment, happily reminiscing on better times when the rooms were full of laughter and joy. Prone to obliterate the senses and numb them in a narcotic fug as tracks such as ‘Alone, Where I Can See’ take us through the ruination of the very soul. There’s little left of joy, the depressive grey streaks of melody and anguish from the vocals speak it all. There is no easy way out…

Moving through various stages None skilfully weave their narrative around atmospheric doom and black metal along with parts that will bring post rock and DSBM along to the miserable party. It’s all quite beautiful and although there is no escaping from the hurt beneath the folds, it is quite a relaxing journey to partake in. Easily carrying the listener away through lush melodicism and reviving with sudden bouts of bristling rage, it moves with grace and passion at its heart. There are no particular answers to be found in this sincere expression of anguish. No lyrics to help you on the way as we twist and turn restlessly through these lengthy passages, nothing in the way of social media to provide you with the inner workings of if this is even based on fact and fiction. The mystery of it all simply makes it all the more profound and genuine.

It may seem a cop out but even going into this album further seems to be doing it a disservice. It’s one that those who can take its abject sorrow and bleakness, you need to listen and contemplate alone in its entirety. Inevitable is described as “the last stage of grief” and like everything with None I guess the future is uncertain…?

Rating: 8/10

Reviewed by: Pete Woods

Review from Sputnik Music

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 12:42:07 +0100

From: Sputnik Music

Published: June 30, 2023

Original Link

Already with their first, self-titled release in 2017, None have managed to gain traction and bring some life (pun intended) to the depressive black metal scene. Their previous work Damp Chill of Life attracted unusual attention for the standards of this outcast of a subgenre, and it is not unjustified, given how much of a smooth and seamless listening experience the band provides. With Inevitable, they continue layering the same construction they have been working on since their beginnings, so find a really comfortable spot to sink in before listening.

At 56 minutes duration, it is the longest None album to date, passing Life Has Gone On Long Enough from 2018, by a small margin. As expected, time goes by slower than normal when it comes to cold-blooded records like this, and the band moves languidly for as long as Inevitable lasts. Snail-paced, monotonous melodies with a fuzzy sound and shrieked / howling vocals are the basic ingredients, alongside frequent ambient passages and gloomy clean guitar lines interconnecting different parts of the tracks, showcasing how None excels in album flow. One could describe a lot of bands on the DSBM aisle with similar words and there is no groundbreaking moment here, but if you’re looking for that in such a case it’s on you and not on them.

The harsh guitar sections of the album are wonderful, as much as that is possible. “Rest” is a notable depressive black metal track, while the sequence of the first two pieces “Never Came Home” (which has an introduction that could have been an opening statement in a distorted Ahab song) and “Alone, Where I Can See” include the album’s most compelling moments. Just slightly faster is “A Reason to Be”, another highlight that fully expresses the hopelessness and the agony the band tries to get across, with particularly amazing vocals that remind a bit of Austere or Thy Light.

On the other hand, Inevitable’s potentially fragile side stems from the interludes that are present in abundance, and sometimes take up more space than needed. This is especially evident with the sequence of two basically dark ambient / drone tracks back to back on “My Gift” and “Locked, Empty Room”, where I caught myself losing the grip and the process for a bit. None did not shy away from these elements in their albums before, and they are still, with the exception of the two aforementioned examples, perfectly arranged throughout the rest of the compositions.

For that reason, I don’t think Inevitable does not attain the consistency of Damp Chill of Life, however it still remains a fine DSBM work, with a haunting atmosphere and more variety than your typical release of a similar style. It's aching and it's mournful, as None maintain their suffering for the sake of their craft and push on, with another really solid release. It's well defined, does not contain any pretentiousness and you'll get what you expect, once you press play

Rating: 3.5/5

Reviewed by: NightOnDrunkMountain

Review from Musipedia of Metal

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 12:40:31 +0100

From: Musipedia of Metal

Published: June 30, 2023

Original Link

And the last one for this week, brings us None with Inevitable, their latest long player that represents their fourth full length effort since 2017. Their approach is to simply devastate with atmospheric and depressive black metal, which wasn’t on my bingo card for reviews this late in the year. Digging a little deeper, there is two members, both listed as Anonymous, and this latest offering has been likened to the final stage of grief and from the outset you can immediately see why they would say this. Each of the songs is lengthy, with the shortest My Gift running at 6 minutes.

Never Came Home starts with a building guitar part that barely registers for the first two minutes or so. Just this piece is haunting, and softly done until it comes in properly with that black metal overload of guitar and drums that seems to have been squeezed together to provide a wall of sound. The main part is that guitar line that started it off, that is the focus here and it anchors the whole thing. This is certainly dark in its feel and rises to a euphoric climax, dropping back to an almost muted melody line.

This is certainly a great start, and they continue with Alone, Where I Can See. This starts on the front foot, but with a controlled almost ponderous riff that favours the buzz saw sound in lieu of the clear melody lines from Never... as they just choke the life out any light that may have come from track one. This one conjures up the blackest period of mourning, of the bone deep pain that is associated with that and with just these first two songs they absolutely nail the atmospheric but cold approach. It also shows that they are not afraid to make the music that they feel representative of who they are, and the ending section here shows that in spades.

However, as A Reason To Be continues this depressive journey there starts to be a bit of fatigue setting in. This one comes out on the attack, but in an almost similar measure as Alone, and has just enough sonic differences to make this a companion piece (of sorts) to that track. I’m not sure if that was intended, but the melodies and attack are almost the same. This is not to say its poor, but with this music there has to be something that grabs you constantly, especially if the run time is 10 minutes plus. My Gift barely registered with me, this is an almost silent, whispered track that seemed to go nowhere and ultimately really put the brakes on proceedings and puts pressure on the last two songs to build something to make it all worthwhile.

Locked, Empty Room starts with a piece of melody that just doesn’t go anywhere and just hangs there, plodding away to its end. Its mournful and at the same time fits in so well with the overall feel of the album, especially with the spoken word at the end but it feels as though it is an idea stretched too far and by the time that Rest chimes in with the admittedly beautiful chords and arrangement, I’m somewhat done in. But something exceptional happens and the song just explodes with a wall of sound – distortion vs melody with the black metal delivery sat on top, pulling it together with a slow, measured percussion that grows until there is a stripped back refrain which makes way for a more urgent attack, not in speed but in approach. This is built for emotional pay off and you can imagine the release of writing and then recording this piece, the effect it would have on them.

Going down the full honesty route, my musical taste sits more on that brighter side (of death) as opposed to the full blackness that is presented here. Personally, I think they could have done without the instrumental and there was a drop in momentum that sapped me and made it a slog to get to the end. The songs are haunting, and beautifully put together but are aimed for consumption within a very specific genre. For me, its not one I would necessarily dip my toes into again. 6/10

Rating: 6/10

Reviewed by: Mark Young

Review from Wonderbox Metal

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 12:40:44 +0100

From: Wonderbox Metal

Published: June 27, 2023

Original Link

None are a black metal band from the US and this is their fourth album.

If you’re unfamiliar with None, where have you been? Releasing three stellar records in a row, (2017’s None, 2018’s Life Has Gone on Long Enough, and 2019’s Damp Chill of Life), None have now finally returned with their longest album yet, the 56-minute Inevitable.

Inevitable offers a feast of melancholic black metal that falls somewhere between the atmospheric and depressive styles, albeit one that’s skewed towards the latter. Add to this an element of doom-drenched misery, and you have the latest None album in all of its bleak glory.

It’s great to hear some new None songs. On Inevitable the music is darker than ever, but also more chillingly beautiful. Ranging from soft, delicate fragility to towering walls of shimmering blackened distortion, None craft immersive soundscapes of hopelessness and loss that somehow sound empowering in their despair. When listening to Inevitable the tangible feelings of anguish and pain are cathartic, allowing the listener to wade through the richly depressive atmospheres unscathed, emerging the other side better for having experienced the intensity of their emotive depths.

The music is pure negative emotion given sonic form. It’s shaded and nuanced, with hidden substance, as only the darkest feelings can be. Inevitable takes the listener on an experiential journey from the subtlest forms of mourning, through to the most visceral expressions of raw sorrow.

Any album that has elements of depressive black metal style will have somewhat of a hill to climb with me due to the very nature of the style’s proclivities, but None have always excelled in their art, and Inevitable is no exception to this rule.

The much-anticipated return of None has been worth the wait. Inevitable is a sterling addition to the band’s Grade A discography, and a triumph of darkness and woe over the light.

Essential listening.

Review from Grizzly Butts

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 13:10:03 +0100

From: Grizzly butts

Published: June 21, 2023

Original Link

Intentionally depressive music is a tough thing to approach in the sense that folks tend to apply functionality to its existence in terms of both artist and consumer perspectives. We ask what it does for the listener and what it does for the artist just as often and this isn’t a common expectation within the milieu of extreme metal sub-genre specificity. Artists might be looking for catharsis in process, some even admit to attention-seeking behavior, others simply want to generate a sentimental or hopeless feeling to combat the numbness of repetitive existence, and many have simply inherited a fatalistic approach to depression which they wear as a key nodule of personage. I guess this not-so deep observation arises for the sake of having felt something for Portland, Oregon-based depressive atmospheric black metal duo None‘s second LP ‘Damp Chill of Life‘ back in 2019 and now parsing why I feel absolutely nothing for their follow-up. Not only has their presentation changed a bit, taking its time within longer pieces which meander with far less of a glowing peak to each song, but I’ve changed in the interim and feel hardened to the peaceful glow of ‘Inevitable‘. The combined ~16 minutes of “My Gift” and “Locked, Empty Room” are essentially ambient beyond the end of the latter wherein a women appears to say “I miss you” before convulsing, choking or similar noises of death end the moment. For my own taste this is a completely silly waste of a good fourth of the album’s hourlong run and ultimately what’d kept me from taking it in any further.

Rating: 77/100

Review from Infernal Masquerade Magazine

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 11:12:56 +0100

From: Infernal Masquerade Magazine

Published: June 22, 2023

Original Link

It has been a long four years since mysterious entity NONE unleashed their last release “Damp Chill of Life”. With a very piercing and demoralizing sound, this North American outfit delivers some of the most nihilistic aural experiences you will ever encounter. With “Inevitable”, the band keeps the pain going with 56 minutes of soul crushing music. For any fan of Atmospheric Black Metal, this is exactly what dreams are made from.

Opening with the somber “Never Came Home”, momentum is slowly built with clean guitars and atmospherics just before the wall of distortion sets it. The interplay of whispers as the harsh screams come in showcases the band’s brilliance when it comes to shift momentum and create devastating transition. Eerie pieces like “Alone, Where I Can See” and “A Reason to Be”, further push the band’s ability to deliver melancholy amongst aggressive onslaughts to completely new heights.

The second ‘half’ of the release focuses more on creating chilling atmospheres with tracks like “My Gift” and “Locked, Empty Room” to provide the listener with some respite and prepare theme for the bleakness of “Rest”. This last track is our favorite thanks to its dream-like and yet oppressive atmosphere, with a perfectly restrained tempo thanks to crafty drumming. The hypnotic nature of this track creates a very unique overwhelming vibe.

As a whole “Inevitable” is one of those extremely polished releases that bleeds melancholy and pain unlike any other. With each album NONE continues to push the boundaries of bleakness, setting the bar even higher. If you are a fan of depressive/atmospheric Black Metal, there is no reason to not know about this outfit and their demoralizing, but amazing music.

Rating: 97/100