thedowngoing are a two-man band from Sydney, Australia. Their new EP is entitled ATHOUSANDYEARSOFDARKNESS. Obviously, they have no patience or use for spaces. Spaces would only interrupt the run-on pile-up of letters. There are also few spaces in the band’s music. Spaces would only interrupt the run-on pile-up of noize and unhinged vocalization that erupts from the album like sulfuric acid and brimstone spewing from a high-pressure firehose.
I first heard about this band as a result of a 2011 year-end list by Alex Layzell (Grind To Death) that we posted last December (here). In that article, Alex was singing the praises of thedowngoing’s Untitled EP. More recently, he’s been singing the praises of ATHOUSANDYEARSOFDARKNESS, so I decided I should check it out.
It doesn’t take long — 12 songs run roughshod through your skull in almost exactly 10 minutes, leaving a smoking wreckage of pulp in place of what used to be your brain.
The stringed instruments are so distorted that they sound like a combination of industrial-strength sandblasters and the ongoing explosion of an overloaded transformer. The drumming bolts from recognizable rhythms to sheer off-the-hook mayhem, one freaked-out detonation of percussion after another. The vocals are as utterly and completely deranged as any I’ve ever heard, with high-pitched shrieking that could not possibly leave any normal set of vocal chords intact and gruesome growls that would frighten bears.
The music is like a violent physical assault by a horde of bat-winged things with blood eyes and teeth the size of steak knives. Why would anyone want to experience such a thing? Here’s my theory: because, given the right stimulus, the body makes drugs for free, and a full-on adrenaline rush is a pretty sweet ride.
For people with a taste for violent grindnoise, ATHOUSANDYEARSOFDARKNESS is an intense experience that’s very tough to beat. The music can be downloaded at Bandcamp for a price you name or ordered on CD from the same location: HERE.
Fasten your seat belts, and get ready to scream:
18 Responses to “SHORT BUT SWEET: THEDOWNGOING – “ATHOUSANDYEARSOFDARKNESS””
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One of the best releases of the year in my books, sitting right on the edge of all out chaos whilst retaining a sense of music. MOSH!
Man, thanks for spreading the word about this. I should have mentioned this in the review, but another thing I found amazing about the EP is that it shows it’s possible to make a song distinctive despite the fact that it’s only 20 or 30 seconds long.
Another top spot contender for this year is Sakatat’s Bir Devrin Sonu, its 8 minutes something long, but holy hell does it kick ass
Fuck. I just read your review of that release and listened to the track you have at the end. Fuck.
http://www.grindtodeath.com/zine/end-of-an-era-review-sakatat-bir-devrin-sonu-2012.html
If you want more of a sneak peeks I can send you the tracks for “journalistic reasons” if you care for some more grindcore love.
No. Send them to me. Islander is unworthy. He doesn’t even drink penguin blood!!!
Yes! Yes! And pay no attention to that interloper above. I do so drink penguin blood. In fact, I am drinking it right now along with my baby seal cereal.
I’d ask you to prove it, but I don’t want to embarrass you.
I have like 30 minutes of free time (wheeeeee!) and…
Well, I think I’ll spend the next 29 minutes listening to this and trying to kill as many brain cells a possibly by headbanging. If I can still type after this, I’ll have one to blame but myself.
Whilst listening to this gateway to hell, whilst in hell care to pick up a few pamphlets?
I’m not sure if you’re making fun of my typo or if it’s a reference I don’t get. But your comment made me smile. In a confused way. Like a deer with an extra hole in its head….
haha, there is no parody, merely suggestive that this release will take you to hell and back, such is it’s power!
Oh, word! You’re right. I think I need to listen to it again though. I still seem to have the capacity to type.
Also: just added Grind to Death to my RSS feed. Woo!
Can I spell it Grynd to Death instead? Is that cool or lame?
Awesome thanks, although nowhere near the league of review quality as NCS, I hope GTD can satisfy your grind needs. And yes Grynd to Death is cool, perhaps better still Grynd to Deaf?
Oh, FUCK! Sorry, but I think you are now obligated to rename your site.
I’m sure Grynd to Deaf will definitely satisfy my grind needs! Like a motherfucking boss. Or something. I hope my boss doesn’t fuck my mother….
You are far too humble. Your reviews are outstanding, and make ours (or at least the ones written by everyone but me) read like infantile gibberish.
Also, I approve of Grynd To Deaf.
Sent to your email alongside a proposition for super secret plan of world dominance.