Bitter Loss - Oblivion In Ceremonial Void EP

Kind of a sweet gain actually.

(Originally submitted to the Metal Archives on July 1st, 2021) 

Contrary to what the name might have you think, Russia’s Bitter Loss isn’t an Entombed worship band. Instead, they are part of the ever so popular caverndeath scene that blew up following Dead Congregation’s Graves of the Archangels back in the mid-2000s. The style hasn’t really seen much in the way of progression, with a vast majority of the bands replicating their favourite Incantation and Immolation records, though there are definitely some standout releases through the years. The band’s debut EP, Oblivion in Ceremonial Void definitely falls under the former category, though that is by no means a bad thing.
As you might have already gathered already, the main order of the day is spastic tremolo riffing redolent of Onward to Golgotha, offset by some crawling doom tempos which provide that sepulchral touch we all know and love. The vocals are no different on that front, being a low, cavernous growl with some mid-range screams sprinkled in for good measure. That being said there are standout moments throughout the EP, such as the ascending lead in “Hill of Hypocrisy”, or the riffing in “Procreation Under the Tyrants Shadow”. Special mention should also go to Los’, whose drumming provides an extra flair to the proceedings, and prevents the more drawn out sections from becoming boring.
The production here is surprisingly good for a debut, with every instrument sounding crisp and clear, as well as an excellent mixing job which lets every instrument shine and doesn’t feel too cluttered. That being said the aforementioned clarity of the EP is one of my gripes with it, seeing as this music shines when things are just a touch underproduced, which in turn enhances the otherworldly feel of the music.
The production sadly isn’t my only gripe with this release, seeing as it has some other minor issues which prevent me from enjoying it more. First and foremost there are two ambient pieces here that serve as intros and outros, and both take up almost 5 minutes of this EP’s 19 minute runtime. There is nothing wrong with setting a tone, but when you’re making small releases such as this one every minute counts, and no ambient intro warrants being 2:45 minutes long. The other issue is the fact that it’s nothing that you haven’t heard a thousand times by now, at least if you’re already a fan of the style. It’s not something that’ll make you go “wow” by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s still a pleasant way to pass the time. I’m a junkie for this sound so I don’t have too big an issue with the fact that it does little to set itself apart, but you should probably avoid it if you’re tired of the sound.
Oblivion in Ceremonial Void is a solid, if slightly unremarkable debut from a promising band. It’s definitely geared for those who have a penchant for the style, and it will do little to sway one’s opinion on it. That being said, the band has plenty of potential, and it’d be a good idea to keep an eye on them in case they manage to realise that in their next release.
Highlights: Hill of Hypocrisy, Procreating Under the Tyrants Shadow

Rating: 78% 

  

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