(Allen Griffin reviews the new self-titled 7″ EP by Hissing.)
Seattle trio Hissing is one of the latest additions to Southern Lord’s formidable roster and they are poised to release their self-titled 7″ in early June. Consisting of two crushing tracks, a little over eleven minutes of music, their sound can be described as an amalgamation of abyss-trawling blast beats, thick gutter sludge, and oppressive, mysterious atmosphere.
While drawing from a range of influences, Deathspell Omega, Portal, and Autopsy are the most obvious touchstones, and while these are not uncommon influences in the current scene, Hissing succeed where others often fail. There is a certain x-factor bands of this ilk rarely possess, but Hissing seem to have in spades. The material here, inspired by the human psyche trying to survive in hostile urban environments, is utterly convincing in both composition and execution.
Photo by Ryan Avery
The accompanying press release makes no mention of any impending full-length, but this EP definitely leaves the listener craving more. In the meantime, look for them in support of Sunn O))) on their upcoming tour and also at Covenant Festival II in Vancouver in June.
The EP will be released on June 10 and can be ordered here. It can also be pre-ordered in digital form on Bandcamp. The two tracks on the EP are streaming exclusively at Noisey.