DUST PROPHET - One Last Look Upon The Sky (Review)

Written by: Continuous Thunder

What do early 20th-century serial killers, the Spanish Inquisition, and John Milton’s Paradise Lost have in common? Well, a few things, but in this particular instance, they partially inspire the first full-length album from Manchester, New Hampshire’s Dust Prophet, One Last Look Upon The Sky. Of course, these are all very dark and heavy subjects, but I can assure you that the band brings the musical heft to do them justice.

Indeed, a weighty and apocalyptic atmosphere permeates the entire album, from the ethereal and mysterious intro track, “A Storm of Time & Space Part 1,” to the crushing resolution of “Bury Me Before Noon.” And the essential ingredients, the waves that carry you from shore to shore on this journey, are the almighty riffs! Dust Prophet provides fuzz-laden, head-nodding vibes contrasted nicely with quieter, haunting passages. This dynamic range is exemplified on tracks like “When the Axe Falls” and “Bury Me Before Noon.” Furthermore, ambient touches and other clever arrangements by bassist and keyboardist Sarah Wappler truly elevate the compositions and set them apart. The appropriately titled “Song 4” is especially rewarding, with new layers and complexities revealing themselves through multiple listens.

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Beyond the instrumentation, guitarist/vocalist Otto Kinzel’s voice plays a vital role in the overall package. Ranging from lamenting cleans to harsh growls and often layered in intriguing ways, Kinzel tailors his delivery to match the tone of both the instrumentals and the lyrics. For example, in the song “Dear Mrs. Budd,” most of the vocals are on the more aggressive side, but during a quieter moment in the second half of the song, a cleaner delivery is used with a slight effect and quieter, harsher doubling. Combined with the lyrics themselves, this vocal production gives this section of the song a strange and almost unsettling feel that complements the subject that inspired it. (No, seriously. “Dear Mrs. Budd” is inspired by serial killer Albert Fish and one of his victims and that is one of the most disturbing things I have ever looked up. An unsettling vibe is more than appropriate.)
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​While we’re on the subject of lyrical inspiration, I found it very interesting how religion was a unifying theme through the majority of the album, specifically Christianity and Christian mythology. “Put to the Question” and “The High Capital” are the most obvious with the former referencing how the Spanish Inquisition would torture confessions out of its victims and the latter being sung from the perspective of Satan after being cast out of heaven in Paradise Lost. “Bury Me Before Noon” contains an incantation that is believed to open portals to hell and even the songs about serial killers contain a religious element. The Axeman of New Orleans, who inspired “When the Axe Falls,” referred to himself as a demon in hell’s service and Albert Fish experienced auditory hallucinations, believing his heinous acts and self-harm were instructions from God or other religious figures. I’m sure there’s a thesis in there somewhere about how Christianity and various atrocities are linked, but this is a music blog and we’re here to talk about riffs.
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Now, if I’m completely honest with you, I do have to admit that the production can be a little rough in places. But I’m not going to bother highlighting the specifics because this is an independently produced debut and they ultimately don’t matter. The ideas on this album are so fully formed and well-executed that any minor production quirks are greatly overshadowed. This is a band that knows who they are and what they’re trying to do and they have the chops to make that a reality. One Last Look Upon The Sky implies and promises an apocalyptic experience, and Dust Prophet delivers with crushing riffs, powerful vocals, and mysterious little touches here and there that hold everything together. It’s a good album and Dust Prophet is a band to watch.

Dust Prophet - One Last Look Upon The Sky was released independently on January 27, 2023.
​Find it here!

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About the Author: Continuous Thunder can be found on Twitter

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