DORMANT ORDEAL - Tooth and Nail (Review)

Written by: Jacob

Horns. Dissonance. A chant.

This is the greeting from Tooth and Nail, the latest outing from Dormant Ordeal. It can feel almost insignificant in the moment, as so many throwaway "intro" tracks in metal albums can.  But as soon as things roll into "Halo of Bones", intentionality appears. This is not an album where moments are thrown out lightly, even 46 second intro tracks.
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From the first proper track, "Halo of Bones," you'll be getting, well, the "bones" of the entire album. Atmosphere. Intense groove. A touch of black metal. Blasting death metal. These are the foundation upon which Dormant Ordeal builds their masterwork. All present, all introduced at exactly the right time, and none overstaying their welcome.

​The seamless weaving of all these elements immediately give Tooth and Nail a sense of magnitude and heft. It becomes evident over time, though, that these tools were used to create something lasting and emotionally charged.  Anger, pain, panic, defeat, and resurgence are all felt not just in individual tracks, but in their placement and flow.

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The first big shift comes at the end of track four, "Orphans," which goes out with an escalation that leaves the atmosphere hanging on a cliff, left to wait for a resolution. This leads into "Solvent," a track that can only be fully appreciated by listening. It weaves, it flows, it waxes and wanes. It is a full organic being acting of its own volition. It is inescapable, and yet, it is voluntary. You do not WANT to escape. Which leads to the conclusion of this trilogy within the album, "Dust Crown." It is the most aggressive of these three tracks, pummeling the listener from the very beginning and refusing to relent. It comes to an end with a finality that has puts to rest the tension left by “Orphans,” all while leaving space for the album to conclude naturally in another trilogy of complimentary tracks. 
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Each song, each segment on the album is a proper answer or retort to what has come before. It's to be experienced, not rushed; it's an abandoned castle with deep history that reveals another hidden passage or secret room every time you explore. Dormant Ordeal has created something special with Tooth and Nail. So take the plunge, then take it again, and again.

Dormant Ordeal - Tooth and Nail was released April 18th, 2025 via Willowtip Records. Find it here!

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Big thanks to Jacob for writing this review! Check him out over on Bluesky.

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Dormant Ordeal can be found: Bandcamp and Facebook
Cover art by See Machine | Art direction by Maciej Nieścioruk | Design by Michał “Xaay” Loranc and Maciej Nieścioruk.