Endura Black Eden

Had enough of pretty tunes and rock or dance rhythms and feel like diving into the depths of despair? Then buy anything by Endura. The first track 'Satan's Ex Machina' starts with the half heard, distorted sounds of a city (or something). We then get deep held down chords over a back drop of clanging machines low in the mix. A large gong can be heard in the background. A low moan introduces the next track 'The Left Hand of the Dead'. This moan is then replied to by another that only sounds half human, and all this over a wind blown sound scape. Honestly, this is amazingly atmospheric. You can almost smell those half rotten zombies roaming a desolate planet. People reading this will either now have their cheque in the post or will have moved on to the next review. For those who are still with me, 'The Devils Stars Burn Cold' starts with what could almost be a an orchestrated piece to a biblical epic, you know the sort where millions of extras are walking over moorland. The title of the track is spoken from time to time echoing into nothingness and adds to the overall feel. We move on to 'When God was a Snake', tinkling rhythms chug along and mutate becoming almost tribal, deep breathing is added and we get half heard voices coming out of the mist. 'The Sun No Longer Sets Me Free' isn't my favourite track on the album as it really just consists of vocal effects layered over each other. The last track 'A Golden Heresy' starts with dark drones but then more of the orchestral sounds gradually come out of nothingness into prominence. The tension is heightened as more and more orchestral effects are added and a deep kettle drum beats out time until the end of the album. What is surprising about this album is that it all flows together smoothly without assaulting you and yet has the power to conjure up the most amazingly vivid images in the mind. Sort of mellow darkness if you like. I was riveted to my speakers from beginning to end. (DL)

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