#pestilength

Pestilength/Necronauta | Aesporeh | 2023

Spanish Black/Doom Metal

Basom Gryphos by PESTILENGTH

Basque death metal band Pestilength has a name expertly crafted for our times: a pestilence that has been in circulation for way too long? You can check both those boxes — and the association with the “death” in death metal underscores the alarming aptness of the semiotics. The affective vibe and the cultural ethos articulated on Basom Gryphos are thick, complicated stuff to work out. There’s a related issue of tone: for this listener, there’s something close to obscene, something that feels vaguely vulgar and grody, that happens when one says “Pestilength.” It’s hard to identify what about the term produces the repellant resonance, which adds to the uncertain representational stakes. Whatever it is, that resonance is in tune with the band’s music: thick, pummeling death metal of a high degree of intensity and a pervading sense of gravid sternness. Combine two song titles (“Exertion” and “Vexed”) from Basom Gryphos and you get a fitting mission statement for the record: vexed exertion.

Houston fiends! Get down to @whiteswanlive right now for the #HoustonMetalSwapMeet! Treasure hunt for underground gems. I just met up with @goat_throne_records, who has a great table featuring his releases (I bought three!). Our people are assembling; heed the call. 🤘

My loot:

Black Oath - To Below & Beyond

Pestilength - Basom Gryphos

Cardiac Arrest - Haven for the Insance

Wulfskol/Hexella Split

My review of Pestilength's second album, Basom Gryphos, written for Heavy Music HQ:

Basom Gryphos is Pestilength’s second studio album after releasing Eilatik in 2020. It can be considered as a successful effort that has been effective to complete the world of the debut album.

In some ways it may seem that Basom Gryphos does not bring much with it, and is devoid of elements that make it a special work. But the manifestation of the album’s vibrant spirit makes sense when you listen to it several times. Basom Gryphos doesn’t put much on the table, but the album’s success is in their Incantation/Immolation-themed death/doom metal combination, with strong touches of black metal. It creates a dark, horrific and evil scene, reigning all over its ominous spirit. It’s an effort that ultimately allows Pestilength to score the points needed for an effective work.

Pestilength | Eilatik | 2020

Spanish Black/Death Metal