There is no denying that 2023 has been a huge and exciting year for death metal with exceptional releases from Dying Fetus, Creeping Death and Tomb Mold to name a few. A high standard to follow as fans eagerly awaited the following up to their 2019 debut, The Grand Descent, but Fuming Mouth sure did follow up and they do not disappoint.
Working closely alongside Kurt Ballou of CONVERGE to help shape the record, Last Day of Sun showcases the band’s progression with their sound whilst remaining the perfect amalgamation of death metal and hardcore. Initially born as solely a concept album depicting a city in disarray as the sun is set to extinguish in 24 hours, the concept shifted to become more rooted in reality to reflect the struggles of lead singer, guitarist, and founder Mark Whelan’s diagnosis and recovery from Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.
Monstrous opening track ‘Out of Time’ rips Last Day of Sun into life, delivering powerful riffs and breakdowns evocative of Fuming Mouth at their very best. Whelans bellowing delivery of “I am out of time” at the start of the song and its echoing throughout, sets out the underlying concept of the album, encapsulating the turmoil of a city facing impending doom and the very real fear and personal struggle of battling a life-threatening illness and grappling with death.
Alongside ‘Out of Time’, ‘Respect & Blasphemy’ stays true to Fuming Mouth’s usual sound. In contrast, ‘The Silence Beyond Life’ , while still delivering an incredibly satisfying riff, branches away from the norm with the inclusion of impressive clean vocals. Nonetheless, the face-slapping false ending and beautifully dramatic clean vocal chorus (which isn’t easily forgotten) undeniably makes this track a standout on the album.
After being consecutively bashed in the face by ‘R.I.P (Rest in Piss)’ and ‘Burial Practices’, two distinctly intense and brutal tracks, closing song ‘Postfigurement’ reintroduces melody as the track slowly climbs to an uplifting second half that ignites a feeling of hope juxtaposing the brutal lashings of previous tracks. A beautiful and welcomed end and homage to the overcoming of Whelan’s horrific illness.
Last Day of Sun delivers over 45 minutes of what Fuming Mouth have finessed, exceptional death metal. Not only does this album bathe in excellence musically, the underpinning emotive backstory of a fight for survival in both the real and fictional world enhances the rawness of the record. The fictional narrative is flawlessly illustrated in the stunning album artwork by Stefan Todorovic, adding a visual layer of doom and darkness, bringing the record to life. This really is a triumphant return for Fuming Mouth.