Úzkost - Arise: Assemble! Conjoin Your Flame! (Review)

Written by: The Administrator

We slumbering townsfolk seldom find consensus when it comes to the world of music appreciation and unsolicited commentary, but we do enjoy some common ground from time to time. One such instance of is the inevitable positive reaction upon the release of new music from Pittsburgh's Úzkost. They've been dropping a string of consistently excellent and hard-hitting tunes over the past few years, with a clear plan to continue releasing singles across the coming year. 

​Self-described as "blackened and doomed death metal," this crew demonstrates a real knack for relentlessly disorienting (albeit engaging) songwriting. I absolutely loved the standalone "Mt'hr" released a month ago for its unique ability to balance undiluted and unhinged rage alongside highly memorable hooks. Needless to say, the announcement of another track following on the heels of "Mt'hr" was cause for much celebration 'round these parts. Enter "Arise: Assemble! Conjoin Your Flame!"

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"Arise: Assemble! Conjoin Your Flame!" recalls the sludgy heft of its predecessor's intro, spending a notable portion of the first half wading through a thick breakdown. In contrast, the back half practically erupts into a cacophony. The guitars roil with grace. The drums pummel with a markedly notable intensity. There's a surprising triumphant air to the blistering freneticism that contrasts quite nicely with the more downtrodden first ac​t, and the sheer energy the track exudes is more than enough to get the blood pumping. For a song thematically designed as a collective call to arms, that result feels like a natural requirement. It's a ruthless experience, a masterclass in harnessing chaotic extremity while simultaneously maintaining a sense of explosive wild abandon. 
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​And, of course, the execution is brilliant from a technical standpoint, with seamless and pinpoint accurate instrumentation being an absolute given at this stage in Úzkost's run. The multifaceted vocals are particularly impressive in my books--the banshee shrieks feel beyond human in their vicious fury, and the chanted howl that close the track extend so far beyond the mortal frame that they feel more akin to a horde of demons speaking in unified glossolalia.

If it is not apparent, this band has made quite a splash at the Village. Today alone, our humble halls have begun to quaver and shake as we hit replay just one more time, and just one more time after that. We're lightening the torches as we speak. "Arise: Assemble! Conjoin Your Flame!" is well worth your attention, and, moreover, it is worth your $1. Find it here!

​Úzkost - Arise: Assemble! Conjoin Your Flame! was released Nov. 25th, 2022.

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Úzkost can be found:
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