AN NCS VIDEO PREMIERE: DUSK — “BEACON OBSCURED”

You can tell from the name Dusk that this Wisconsin band got their start a very long time ago. Especially in the doomier sectors of the metal-verse, a name like that would have been seized early. Of course, as Metal-Archives shows us, 10 other bands from around the world also seized it, but none earlier than this group from Green Bay.

Metal-Archives also documents for us that many of the other early Dusk‘s no longer exist, some of them barely surviving past their first releases. And so it seemed with the Wisconsin band: They released a self-titled EP in 1994 and a debut album (…Majestic Thou in Ruin) in 1995, and then nothing new for 10 years after.

The silence was broken by a 2005 split with Aphotic (another Green Bay band), and then another long silence descended until the band re-formed in 2015 and the Dark Symphonies label then released Dusk‘s 2018 EP, Withdraw.

Twenty-eight years is a damned long time between albums, but at last we have a new one on the way from Dusk, a second full-length named Dissolve Into Ash that will be collaboratively released on December 8th by Dark Symphonies/The Crypt Vinyl and Dread Records, and as a sign of what Dusk has now accomplished we’re premiering an official video for the new album’s opening song, “Beacon Obscured“.

Dusk is rightly regarded as one of the pioneers of the death/doom genre, based on that first album in 1995. Of course, achieving cult status by being a very talented progenitor is no guarantee of quality 28 years later. If anything, it’s much more difficult to make a stand-out impression after decades of other bands both mimicking and building upon such old foundations.

In other words, the name Dusk is undoubtedly going to draw people to the new album, including people who’ve caught the band live since their re-formation, but it’s the music that will make them stay, or leave. We’ll be among the people staying, and you’ll understand why when you see and hear the video for “Beacon Obscured“.

To introduce it we’ll start by sharing some comments from the people in Dusk themselves. Regarding the background of the album as a whole, they say:

Birthed out of the Covid pandemic, the inspiration of the material for this release was an overall sadness. The purpose of this album is to somehow musically equate the overall demise of mankind; an almost apocalyptic/end days atmosphere. The title Dissolve into Ash was derived from an ancient Latin funeral dirge entitled “Dies Irae”.“The section of the chant focused on is translated into English as:

The Day of Wrath, that Day
Will Dissolve the World in Ashes
How great will be the Quaking
When the Judge is about to Come

This verse contains the overall feeling of being overwhelmed by this life and the mental torment that exists during these times. This is the darkest album that Dusk has ever recorded. Exploring the deepest depressive depths of the soul.

“Dies Irae” also plays a key role in the song you’re about to experience. As Dusk vocalist and bassist Steve Crane explains:

Musically “Beacon Obscured” is the opening track on our forthcoming album Dissolve into Ash. It starts with a doom-laden mournful lamentation. The song has multiple dynamics including a middle interlude which includes a haunting original rendition of the funeral dirge, “Dies Irae.”

In the video, our female vocalist, Dana, performing “Dies Irae” symbolically embodies an extension of creation – dwelling, waiting. During this performance, she is telling the trees, flowers and butterflies that the day of wrath is coming. That day will dissolve the world in ashes.

By the end, there is a reprise in which Dana is crying out a lament at the thought of complete destruction of everything living, beautiful and pure. This vocalization finishes the video with an almost intercessory cry, knowing this impending doom.

In keeping with these themes, “Beacon Obscured” (accompanied by a terrific video) is both deeply haunting and powerfully harrowing. Slow beats drop like megaton bombs. Dismal chords reverberate like the sizzle of coals across an incinerated forest — and then cruelly slash and feverishly jolt as the music’s intensity magnifies.

The contrast provided by Dana Ignarski‘s singing, backed by ethereal synths and glinting notes is a stark one, as is the perilous change that comes next, with Crane‘s vicious snarls, feverishly whirring strings, and eerie keys.

When Dana appears again, it’s even more spine-tingling — and the ensuing attack by the full band is too. Their music channels desperation and fear, and also ruthlessly pound like humongous sledgehammers. There’s no hope to be found before the end, only sounds of the earth shaking and the radiation of searing pain.

Regarding what you’ll hear on the rest of the new album, we’ll again turn back to Steve Crane:

The other tracks feature raw and brutal vocals mixed that seem to have found new life. Musically this album contains the obvious death/doom riffs, and progresses to some slight black metal influences.

The band worked tirelessly to try to make the sound as massive as possible without sounding overproduced. Dusk also tried to stay true to their old school death doom roots, since not having recorded a full length since 1995, and at the same time ushering in a new modern version of the band. Fans of old school and new fans who never heard of Dusk should be pleased with the result.

Dissolve Into Ash will be released via Dark Symphonies/The Crypt Vinyl on CD and vinyl, and on tape via Dread Records. The release will be distributed through Dark Descent Records. The album was produced by David Pietila at SourceTrack Studio.

Pre-orders for the tape version are available now via Dread Records, while CD pre-orders via Dark Symphonies/The Crypt Vinyl will be available soon.

DARK SYMPHONIES/THE CRYPT VINYL:
https://darksymphonies.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063896702597

DREAD RECORDS:
http://www.dreadrecords.net/product_info.php?products_id=3435

DUSK:
https://www.facebook.com/duskusaofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/duskusaofficial/
http://duskusaofficial.bandcamp.com/