Listless by Listless Review

In the throngs of an ever more depressing world shaped by despair and bleakness, there come projects that blossom in darkness. Listless is one of those aforementioned projects. Hailing from Victoria, BC, Canada, Aidan Crossley, a name that might be familiar to fans of Liminal Shroud, and gis act Listless are a masterclass in DSBM. Incorporating not only elements from genre innovators such as Lifelover and None, they expand upon them. There is artistry present in every detail and it paints a canvas of desperation, which should not be overlooked. In the following words, I hope I can highlight exactly why.

Our first track, Devoid, opens with a slow and steady pace, which eases us into this sonic experience. It’s a bit slower when compared to forthcoming tracks with emphasis on the depressive elements, including Crossley’s haunting wails. While it’s a good introduction, the second track, Burning Sky, is where we truly take off.

The inspiration from Lifelover is evident but with enough originality to warrant their own kudos. There is variation of both tones and textures, which creates an impactful sound. With the increased pacing, I began to resonate more with the music. There was a good mix of homage to the greats with original ideas meshing into something unforgettable.

Bloodstained Memories, the third track, brings us back down again with a melodic intro focusing on guitar, which leads back into a harsher direction. There is also the addition of ethereal sung vocals, which add a beautiful contrast to the desolation of the lyrics. A very balanced performance all in all. Our fourth track is a musical interlude accompanied by a sample from the film Marriage Story, specifically the argument scene between the two leads.

Which leads me to my one complaint: this scene has been used as TikTok audio near to death and temporarily took me out of the moment. That is not necessarily the fault of the artist here, as I’m certain people who aren’t as chronically online as myself won’t make the connection.

The fifth track, Absence, weighs the atmosphere down again like a millstone, almost dredging into doom territory. This is also my favorite vocal performance on the album, which, much like the lyrics, is “disgusting” and “rotting.” It is a perfect thematic match that embellishes an already fantastic track. When the tone shifts with the presence of almost angelic cleans, the song cemented itself as my favorite track off this particular album. Added to the driving outro, it is composed in a way that makes it near perfect.

Passerine is our next sampling, which has a post-metal riff immediately opening, reminiscent to me of bands such as Ghost Bath. This track holds truest to what I believe the majority of DSBM fans will be looking for. Some ambient feeling is present, but builds up to a lot of depressive pressure. The structure allows us a pause to steadily build back up to the oppressive atmosphere. Matched with a few dreary synths this is a well-rounded song. We close with A Final Yearning Breath, an adequately named instrumental that draws to a fitting conclusion.

Listless’s self-titled album brought me that nostalgia I haven’t felt since my school days of discovering DSBM. That deep, resounding, crestfallen bleakness that in some way made me miss those moments. It is a must-listen. Full stop.

Listless’s album will be released on April 25th through Hypnotic Dirge Records and is currently available for pre-order on Bandcamp as well as physical copies over on their EU and US/Canada sites.

I would implore you all to go and listen on a dark, cold night and enjoy what assuredly will be in my top ten albums of this year. Thank you for reading, and until next time, hails or something.