The prog elements of Lord Dying‘s arsenal give tremendous variation throughout the album’s near sixty minutes as it leans into the unpredictable, keeping listeners captivated for its duration. lulling you in during the first half ‘The Universe is Weeping’ only to be catapulted onto a highway of guitar and drums at frantic speed and the introduction to our narrator, Erik Olson and the wonderful backing of Alyssa Mocere whose isolated vocals ring out the end of the first track as we take our journeys first steps.
From here Lord Dying begin a sonic onslaught with the vengeful ‘I Am Nothing I Am Everything’, its screeching guitars and tribal march drums to serve as the soundtrack for Olson‘s menacing vocals. Venturing forth into the prog forest throughout the album there are sections of brilliance that admirers of Enslaved will enjoy; even right down to the vocals there’s a clear strain of influence.
Clandestine Transcendence is a delicately balanced example of timing and willingness to experiment, pivoting from the harsh into the lush with precision. Their sludge foundations glisten with progressive flair but leave no stone unturned with dramatic melodic rock solos spiralling like petrified trees only to blossom at their end. The mastery of producer Kurt Ballou is a match made in heaven with Lord Dying as his understanding of the vision is evident throughout.
“Clandestine Transcendence is a delicately balanced example of timing and willingness to experiment”
Olson growls and croons his way throughout the album, providing great ability in storytelling and the nuances in his voice create a wonderful foundation for imagery, his evolution on the next album will be one to look out for as you can tell he is capable of another gear in his performance. The additional vocals from Mocere are well placed and her inclusion is one that will only add further dimensions to future recordings.
Album highlight ‘Swimming in the Absence’ is a slow burning pendulum, its melancholic, hypnotic and evokes memories of the late David Golds (Woods of Ypres) baritone confessions. It leaves you at a cliff edge before the final step into the unknown. Ultimately ‘The Endless Road Home’ leaves you with great satisfaction knowing there is further story to be told. Steeped in intelligent and passionate prog influence, Lord Dying can hang with genre heavyweights Mastodon and Crowbar while carving their own path and command listeners to immerse themselves in their universe.