Fell Ruin/Cast In Oil The Dressed Wrought/Tartarus Records/2022 Full Length Review

 

  Detroit,  Michigan's  Fell  Ruin  have  returned  with  a  new  recording  which  shows  the  music  going  for  a  dissonant,  progressive  and  avant  garde  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2022  album  "Cast  In  Oil  Dressed  The  Dressed  Wrought"  which  will b e  released  in  November  by  Tartarus  Records.

  Atmospheric  sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  and  also  mixes  in  with  the  heavier  sections  of  the  songs  at  times.  When  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  the  riffs  also  ad d in  a  great  amount  of  dissonant  structures  and  the  vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.

  Most  of  the  tracks  are  also  very  long  and  epic  in  length  while  the  slower  sections  of  the  songs  also  bring  in  elements  of  doom  metal.  Dark  sounding  melodies  are  also  added  into  the  guitar  riffing  at  times  along  with  a  lot  of t he  riffs  also  being  heavily  influenced  by  death  metal   and  when  clean  playing  is  utilized  they  also  take  the  music  into  more  of  a  progressive  direction.

  The  music  also  has  its  avant  garde  moments  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  Spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  on  a couple  of  tracks.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  surrealism  and  nightmare  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Fell  Ruin  and  if  you  are  a f an  of  avant  garde,  dissonant  and  progressive  black,  doom  and  death  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cast  In  Oil  Dressed  The  Dressed  Wrought"  and  "Sightless  Amongst  The  Weavers".  8  out  of  10.

  Bandcamp: https://fellruin.bandcamp.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FELLRUIN 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fellruin       

    

Fell Ruin/To The Concrete Drifts/I, Voidhanger Records/Graven Earth Records/2017 CD Review

  Fell  Ruin  are  a  band  from  Michigan  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  plays  a  mixture  of  raw  black  metal,  death,  doom  and  sludge  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2017  album  "To  The  Concrete  Drifts"  which  will  be  released  on  March  17th  by  as  a  joint  effort  by  I,  Voidhanger  and  Graven  Earth  Records.

  Acoustic  guitar  playing  starts  off  the  album  and  after  the  intro  the  music  goes  into  a  more  heavy  doom  and  sludge  metal  direction  along  with  some  grim  black  metal  screams  a  few  seconds  later  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  acoustic  guitars  also  return  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording.

  At  times  the  music  gets  very  progressive  and  avant  garde  and  when  the  music  speeds  up  a  great  amount  of  blast  beats  can  be  heard  while  some  of  the  riffing  also  mixes  in  elements  of  death  metal  and  also  bringing  in  a  decent  amount  of  melody  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  done  in  a  very  dark  and  melodic  fashion  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  elements  of  post  metal  can  also  be  heard  at  times  while  the  tremolo  picking  in  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs  gives  the  music  more  of  a  raw  black  metal  feeling  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly.

  Fell  Ruin  creates  another  recording  that  remains  true  to  the  mixture  of  raw  black  metal,  death,  doom  and  sludge  from  previous  releases,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  cover  existential  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Fell  Ruin  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  black,  death,  doom,  sludge,  and  post  metal,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Spy  Fiction  Folds  In  Ready  Sheets"  and  "To  Wither  the  Golden  Rose  In  Bloom".  8  out  of  10.

https://i-voidhangerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/to-the-concrete-drifts

Fell Ruin Interview

1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the band?
We are a new project, consisting of four individuals that, after playing in various bands in Metro Detroit, now have the opportunity to collaborate on something together.

2.Recently you have released your fist album, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?
Honest, straight forward, and uncompromising. We've all performed on several albums with our other/ past projects with little to no complaint/ regret. This album, however, was a chance to do something "natural", bold and most importantly... different. It's the album we've all wanted to make for a while now.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
Subject matter is all over the place yet still conceptual. On the surface, the songs on this album have a reoccurring theme of mediumship/ other worldly disclosure. Dark storytelling all used to shroud a more personal meaning that I won't give away. Explaining what my lyrics are about is virtually impossible for me to do. Best way I can think to get the message across has already been written.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Fell Ruin'?
Naming this project was the bane of our existence. We basically had everything else complete (recordings, artwork, etc.) before having a designation to present ourselves under. I became mildly obsessive with the word "Fell." Not as in the past tense of fall, but in the literary sense meaning: savage, violent, cruel. The "Ruin" part in it's more common usage: to reduce, decay. Combining the two invoked feelings of empowerment through turmoil. A furious shedding of inhibitions of sorts.....
In the end, it's just a name. The one we elected to adorn our collective.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and also how would you describe your stage performance?
At this moment, we have only done one live performance. Saying it felt great to finally perform these songs live would be an understatement.
As for our stage performance, I feel it would be best described by those who were there to bare witness. Speaking for myself, I submit to it completely. Anything planned is void. It's just as much of a selfish experience as it is an exhibition. The music is meant to be something more than just entertainment. This is our art, our craft. Our only hope is the audience/ listener feels the same.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
We have shows lined up well into the year with many more in the works. Our album release show is coming up soon (March 28th in Detroit at Corktown Tavern).
Plans for touring have not been confirmed but aren't out of the realm of possibility.

7.Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label or have received any interest?
As of now, we are perfectly content doing as much as we can independently. However, if the right offer presents itself, we won't miss an opportunity.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of black metal?
Limited yet flattering at best. We're still a very new band, just trying to get the music unto as many ears as possible. Sites such as this have played a critical role in doing just that. For that, we are indebted.

9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
We already have another album nearing written completion. Making plans to record this summer.

10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
Way too many to name. We all come from different musical tastes and backgrounds yet still find quite a bit of common ground. Safe to say there exists a generous amount of black and doom metal influence.
Currently, I've been really into Voices, Misþyrming, Dark Fortress and Nightbringer. Older stuff by Skepticism, Bohren & Der Club of Gore, and Lunar Aurora has also been in heavy rotation.

11.How would you describe your views on Occultism?
There are certain elements that have made there way onto the album. Always sparks my interest. Especially the concept of extra-sensory perception and all things esoteric.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?
We all dabble in assorted interests and what have you's. For now, we will let the mystery remain.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
Just some shameless name drops for our friends in Isenblast, Dark Winter, and Kapnos Manteia for being a part of our release show coming up in Detroit (and for just being great bands in general).

https://fellruin.bandcamp.com/

Fell Ruin/Devices/2015 Full Length Review

  Fell  Ruin  are  a  band  from  Michigan  that  plays  a  mixture  of  raw  black  metal,  death,  doom  and  sludge  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2015  album  "Devices".

  A  very  fast  and  raw  black  metal  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  grim  screams  and  the  music  also  brings  in  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  after  awhile elements  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  are  added  into  the  bands  musical  style  and  all  of  the  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  At  times  you  can  hear  a  bit  of  the  post  black  metal  sound  in  the  bands  musical style  while  there  music  is  too  dark  for  that  genre  and  they  also  add  clean  playing  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  as  the  album  progresses  a  small  amount  of acoustic  guitars  can  be  heard  briefly  before the  band  makes  a  return  back  to  a  heavier  direction.

  Fell  Ruin  takes  a  very  raw  style  of  black  metal  and  adds  in  a  heavy  influence  from  sludge  and  doom  metal  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  dark  and  raw  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Fell  Ruin  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  black,  doom  and  sludge  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Climb"  and  "The  Turn".  8  out  of  10.

https://www.facebook.com/FELLRUIN

fellruinmusic@gmail.com