It has been six years since Nottingham duo Shrykull released their caustic, self-titled debut album. Finally, the second chapter of their tale has been written… a cataloguing of the horrors of both inner and outer space, a journal of time spent Beyond Subconscious Realms. Opening in an imposing wall of reverberating sludge, Blockading The Kingdom Of Infinite Space sets the tone for what is to follow bursting from its swamp into a savage black/death metal attack… Indeed, a tapestry of ripped flesh riffs held together by sinew and congealed blood.
About the album
The two-piece band format helps to keep a sense of space within the Shrykull sound, meaning that while clinging onto the careering death train of Id Hammer, with its carriages of the damned swaying as it thunders down the buckled tracks of bone, one remains aware of vast, tortured landscapes surrounding. Nightmares flashing past as one rides punked up riffs into oblivion. Despite being constructed from the essential, stripped skeleton of drums, guitar and vocals, Beyond Subconscious Realms also manages to conceal hidden, abyssal depths within its frantic progress.
With each track falling directly into the gaping maw of the next, there’s no exit door! Indeed, no distracting light to draw one from the visceral tableau of the grotesque. Classic death metal traits rear up like rudely awakened ghouls from the murk of Gateway Of Nightmares. Also, in the aptly named Chaotic Disforms Of Cosmic Misalignment these same death metal characteristics morph into something ‘other’. As the song shapeshifts like an agent of chaos or a crypt-bound creature of mind rending uncertainty of form. The tarnished majesty of final track Collective Fugue State even reaches its blood stained hands towards a fading glimpse of beauty. Thus, it brings an unexpected aura of tragedy to Beyond Subconscious Realms’ final moments.
Recording information and credits
The depth, dimensions and decimating power of Beyond Subconscious Realms were captured by Ian Boult (Wolvencrown, Foul Body Autopsy, Mage etc) at Stuck On A Name Studios. With Boult having done such fine work on Shrykull’s debut album, continuing with this working relationship was, in the band’s words, ‘a no-brainer’. It’s a decision that has reaped incredible rewards. The band also reached out again to artist Luke Oram to continue the work he began on Shrykull. So, he has produced a stunning, expansive piece to adorn what is a genuinely exceptional album.
Beyond Subconscious Realms will come out on CD and vinyl via Road To Masochist, on November 8th. Also, on cassette via Eggy Tapes, on the same date. Prepare for bad dreams, harsh truths and even harsher riffs!
Lineup:
William Powell – Guitar/Vocals
Kez Whelan – Drums/Vocals
additional guitars on A Glint In The Basilisk’s Eye and Collective Fugue State by Kez Whelan.