Thou & Mizmor - Myopia

Regaining sight of what's important.

(Originally submitted to the Metal Archives on May 21st 2022) 

It would seem that A.L.N. has been quite busy this year. We had the (somewhat disappointing) Wit’s End EP back in February, and now he has collaborated with none other than Thou for their most recent project, and the topic of this review, Myopia. The two bands got together and dedicated a set to it at Roadburn Festival, and ever since I caught wind of it I’ve been waiting for a proper release. And as is tradition by this point, I’m fashionably late to covering it, in part due to having to take my time and appreciate its excellence. Turns out it’s an effortless blend of both bands’ styles, as well as one of this year’s finest releases so far.
Musically, the two groups complement each other nicely, adding something extra to each other’s sound, while at the same time finding some common points which they build upon. Using feedback-laced drones as a base, Mizmor and Thou add their own flavour to the mix, be it through intense tremolo riffing such as the one that inaugurates the album on “Perfect”, or sludgy grooves like those on “Drover of Man” and “Indignance”. The two parties add another dimension to each other’s sound, leading to a very complete and well-rounded work in which both bands have managed to leave their own signature. It honestly makes me wonder why they didn’t collaborate sooner.
The main selling point of this release though is doom, the type that smothers the listener with its crushing weight on all levels. Although this release is exceptionally heavy, the effect is not achieved solely through low tunings and sustained chords, but also the excellent use of melody throughout. Not in a sappy way mind you, every note carries a mournful tone, the potency of which is carried by the stark minimalism that permeates Myopia. There’s nothing in the way of bombast, things are kept simple and are put together in a very purposeful manner, with every composition flowing naturally from one point to the next. The aforementioned tremolo riffs are also quite simple, yet effective in their use and tone, releasing the tension that’s being built up over prolonged periods of time. Even the acoustic sections that appear on occasion don’t feel redundant, their hollow nature only adding to the atmosphere presented here. Special mention goes out to the riff that shows up at 6:50 on “The Root”, that one is just pure beauty and I can’t get enough of it.
The production is also perfect, though truth be told that’s to be expected from Mizmor and Thou at this point, seeing as they’ve become masters of obtaining an organic, yet powerful sound. The guitars’ crushing and sludge-laden tone is front and centre here, casting a veil of doom over the proceedings. Despite that though, its massive weight doesn’t swallow the other instruments, which have their own place in the mix . The bass in particular is something I appreciated, despite it just adding more weight to the riffs with its fuzzy rumble. As for the drums, they’ve got a good amount of punch to them, the cymbals specifically adding a lot of flavour as they cut through the mix, without becoming too abrasive.
As for the vocal performances, they’re also on top form. A.L.N. does his usual mixture of howls and screams, having regained the energy and power that was seemingly absent from Wit’s End, while Bryan Funck’s raspy screams provide a more intense and in-your-face presence. Both of them appear in equal measure throughout the album, spewing lyrics that tackle both personal and worldly issues, ranging from bearing memories of the past and improving on oneself, to questioning those who reign above you and wanting to cure the world of evil. These topics are especially relevant in today’s turbulent times, and seeing artists shine a light on them is always a pleasant sight, especially when it’s done tastefully.
I really don’t have much to complain about with Myopia really. Sure, I’d have liked for there to be a few more tremolo riffs to further satisfy my (rather short) attention span, but I can’t help but turn a blind eye to it when the rest of the music is as good as it is. This project marks a very welcome change of pace from Mizmor’s last project, and serves as another addition to Thou’s lengthy list of successful collaborations. Any fans of either group are probably already all over this, rightfully so might I add, and anyone who loves extreme doom metal definitely owes it to themselves to check this out.

Highlights: Perfect, Drover of Man, Myopia, The Root

Rating: 96% 

  

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