The Body - All the Waters of the Earth Turn to Blood (2010)

 The Body, the duet hailing from Providence, Rhode Island, is one of the finest emerging "new" bands in the Underground scene. I was overly excited when I first heard this album and especially the second track, "A Curse". Although, the Body's music is mainly sludge / doom they're not the typical sludge metal outfit. They incorperate many different elements in their heavy, slow-paced music such as orchestral passages, choirs and chants.
 The experimentation begins instantly from the very first song, "A Body". An orchestral vocal pattern perfomed by females serving as an intro for about 5 minutes until the actual song kicks in. Devastating just like the whole album. The second track, "A Curse", is the most catchy, straightforward and -let's say- accessible one on the record. Great nihilistic lyrics soaked in misery and misanthropy that suit perfectly with the dark music. Then comes the weirdest track, "Empty Hearth" which features the chant of an unknown religious cult in rapture or something.
 Overall, the music is heavy, repetitive, massive, creating a concrete wall of sound- or rather drones. The vocal approach - apart from the choirs and the chanting - reminds me of old Burzum , high-pitched shrieks with an agonizing and desparate feeling. The drumming is one of the highlights of this album. Although it is not as technical as in death metal nor there is any blast beat thoughout the 7 tracks, therefore the drummer turns out to be creative enough, adding more heaviness and brutality on the repetitive riffage and making it more interesting and "groovy" . A fact that worths mentioning is the nine men ensemble sharing the percussion duties on the last track, the epic closer "Lathspell, I Name You", creating the heaviest, most crushing drum beats you've ever heard, similar to an earthquake.
 A unique, experimental band with a weird and provoking approach, blending their typical sludge / drone / doom influences with orchestral-like clean female chants. Minimalistic compositions, black metal vocals with a totally nihilistic and misanthropic outlook on life and a suffocating, thick and sludgy production. " All the Waters of the Earth Turn to Blood" is a must for every open-minded fan of sludge / drone / doom and even black metal who craves for something unique and innovative.
You can listen the album here.

Standout Tracks: "A Curse", "Ruiner", "Lathspell, I Name You"
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