Mizmor - This Unabating Wakefulness EP

Journeying with no end in sight

(Originally submitted to the Metal Archives on January 7th 2022)  

Mizmor’s a very important project to me as a music listener. Not only did A.L.N.’s mix of black and doom metal open my eyes to an entirely new style, it also served as the catalyst for me to start writing these reviews. Seeing as Wit’s End is right around the corner, I decided to shed a light on This Unabating Wakefulness, one of the many (sadly) overlooked releases of the band.

This EP (or single, however you’d like to call it), is comprised of the eponymous title track, a single sprawling 15 minute composition. In essence, it’s a compact version of what Mizmor usually does, featuring solemn acoustics, mixed with ferocious tremolo riffs and crushing doom segments. The first half is focused on acoustic guitars, with a small handful of motifs that are being added upon as the song progresses. The distant distorted guitars, the minimalist cymbal flourishes, as well as the chanted vocals all serve as a build-up to the second half. From 7:20 onward it’s just continuous payoff for what preceded it. And it’s 100% worth it. The aforementioned tremolo and doom riffs violently crash against each other, all while A.L.N.’s unique howl echoes over it all. It all culminates in a desolate, feedback-laden end, a perfect end to this short journey.

The production is also worth discussing, seeing as it’s one of the core pillars that hold this release up. Seeing as Mizmor is focused on atmospherics quite a bit, a lot of care was put in ensuring things sound just right. The music hits this really nice balance of sounding roomy without being empty, and it’s just what the instruments need. The trebly and distorted guitars are supplemented by the fuzzy and grimy bass, while the drums serve as a solid rhythmic base, with the cymbals in particular sticking out. My only gripe with it, and the whole release really, is that the kick drums are quite hard to make out. Had they been a little higher this entire release would’ve just been perfect. That being said the atmosphere concocted is still extremely dense, and such an oversight can be overlooked for the most part.

I would be remiss not to bring up the lyrics, seeing as they’ve always been a core aspect of the band. A.L.N. has always drawn from a very personal place when it comes to their contents, and this release is no different. They ooze despair, describing life as an excessively long journey, where all that’s being carried is fear and negativity, with A.L.N. wishing for some sort of respite. While the lyrics aren’t as long and complex as those seen in his full-lengths, they still manage to give us a look into his emotional state, as well as paint a vivid picture thanks to his intense howls and screams.

Despite essentially being “bite-sized” Mizmor, This Unabating Wakefulness is in no way lacking in comparison to its bigger siblings. It is as deserving of a listen as those pieces are, and is an important piece to the band’s discography as a whole. If you already like them you’ve probably already listened to it, and if you’re interested in A.L.N.’s music, it definitely serves as a good entry point.

Rating: 94%  

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