Hails my fellow black metal heads! Sean here from the Black Metal Archives, bringing you another deep dive into the abyss of sound. Today, we turn our gaze to the Australian act Départe and their crushing full-length debut, Failure, Subside. This album, released in 2016 via Season of Mist, is a harrowing blend of black metal’s raw intensity, post-metal’s expansive atmosphere, and death metal’s suffocating weight. A record that pulses with both sorrow and catharsis, it refuses to be confined to any single subgenre while maintaining a deeply oppressive yet emotional presence.
Départe crafts a soundscape that is as suffocating as it is breathtaking. At its core, Failure, Subside employs the dissonance and fury of black metal but tempers it with post-metal’s contemplative ambiance and death metal’s ferocious density. The guitars shift between tremolo-picked blackened fury and crushing, almost doom-like chords, drenched in reverb and layered for maximum depth. The drumming is an absolute force—unrelenting blast beats give way to spacious, almost tribal rhythms, allowing the compositions to breathe before plunging back into chaos.
Vocally, Sam Dishington delivers a masterclass in versatility. His agonized howls cut through the mix with a visceral desperation, yet the album also embraces deep, haunting clean vocals that add a sorrowful, almost monastic quality. The interplay between these elements creates an emotional journey, an ebb and flow of torment and resolve.
Tracks like “Ashes in Bloom” set the tone immediately—a slow-burning introduction that swells into a maelstrom of dissonant riffing and tortured screams. The weight of despair is almost tangible, yet amidst the chaos, moments of fragile melody surface, only to be swallowed again by the storm.
“Wither” is another highlight, showcasing Départe’s ability to balance aggression with atmosphere. Here, the drums dictate the emotional weight of the track, shifting between relentless battery and ghostly restraint. The layering of vocals adds a ritualistic depth, as clean chants weave through the cacophony, reinforcing the album’s themes of dissolution and rebirth.
Perhaps the most devastating piece is “Vessel”, a sprawling composition that encapsulates the entire essence of Failure, Subside. Beginning with eerie clean passages, the track unfolds into a crushing monolith of sound—one moment celestial, the next, utterly ruinous. The band’s ability to seamlessly transition between these extremes is where their power lies.
The album’s production is immaculate. The mix is cavernous, every note reverberating as if played in some vast, lightless expanse. The guitars are thick yet clear, allowing each dissonant chord to resonate with maximum effect. The bass, often a lost entity in extreme metal, is a key player here, adding immense low-end weight and enhancing the oppressive atmosphere. The drumming is sharp and dynamic, shifting effortlessly between fury and restraint. Every instrument serves the greater vision—there is no indulgence, no excess, just a meticulously crafted descent into darkness.
Départe stands at an intersection of modern black metal evolution. While their foundation is deeply rooted in blackened ferocity, their approach is expansive, pulling from post-metal’s atmospheric swells and death metal’s crushing weight. Fans of bands like Ulcerate, Deathspell Omega, and Altar of Plagues will find much to admire here. Unlike traditional black metal, Failure, Subside is less about raw misanthropy and more about the emotional devastation that comes with introspection. It’s a deeply human record, one that speaks to suffering, acceptance, and transformation.
Failure, Subside is an album that demands patience—it is not a casual listen. It is oppressive, meditative, and at times, heartbreakingly beautiful. Départe have crafted a debut that lingers, its weight pressing down long after the final note has faded. Suppose you seek an experience that blends the raw intensity of black metal with the introspective depths of post-metal and the crushing atmosphere of modern death metal. In that case, this album is essential to listening to. Head over to bandcamp and listen to this gem immediately!
As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments. If you’ve experienced Failure, Subside, share what tracks stood out to you. Don’t forget to support the band—link to their Bandcamp is below.
Until next time, stay black, stay brutal.
