(((((OPENmind/SATURATEDbrain))))): 9 LAGOONS OF DEATH

Sunday 3 March 2024

9 LAGOONS OF DEATH

Band: 9 LAGOONS OF DEATH
For fans of: Infant Island, Blue Noise, An Autumn For Crippled Children, My Hair Is A Rat's Nest, Sickle Eater, To Be Gentle, Life, Vi Som Älskade Varandra Så Mycket, Young Mountain, and Ostraca.

Genres: Punk / Post-Rock / Post-Hardcore / Post-Metal / Emo / Screamo / Skramz / Black Metal / Blackgaze / Shoegaze

Related artists: ?.
Country: New York, New York U.S.A.
Years Active: 2023-present

Label(s): Self Released / Label Of Goods

Woah nelly look at this prolific yet rarely discussed band from NYC. Looks like a solo project, and four LPs in 18 months is nuts for a band to accomplish, and is even pretty damn impressive for a lone ranger (if that is the case). 9 LAGOONS OF DEATH play sometimes fast, sometimes slow and droning, part black metal and part shoegaze aka blackgaze I guess, with a screamo base, aka early Infant Island.

2022's debut/self-titled '9 Lagoons Of Death' full length shows what the project is aiming for, and pretty much nails most of the sound, except perhaps the speed (generally slower) as well as in the vocal department which are yelled more than screamed (just a personal preference, of course). My faves off this are "Crawling Out My Hands" with a stellar riff, "How Did I Get This Low" because of the balance of melody & chaos, as well as "Darker" due to that gorgeous atmosphere. It's a decent listen and a definite must for any die-hard fan, but I wouldn't recommend starting here if you wanna check the band out. Keep on reading!

2023 was a very busy year as the band released 'Killtrocity' and 'Soon I'll Be Gone'. The former is more like a noise/grind album not unlike the quick attacks of early Old Man Gloom, but with less noise/metal and more grind/black-metal. I find this the least appealing of the four releases mostly because it doesn't sound like the same band, and perhaps could have been released under a different moniker, like oooooh I dunno 10 Swamps Of Life. So obviously don't start here if you want to listen because it very much seems to be a one-off. 'Soon I'll Be Gone' on the other hand, was where I heard my first Lagoon Of Death and led me to salivate until the release of their stellar 2024 album. Back to the 2023 precursor, which is most certainly the evolution of the debut, bringing the better parts of it and fleshing them out. A few songs feature an additional vocalist by the name of Ateş and they really work to elevate the songs along with the primary vocalist who leans more into screaming on this release. "You Wanted Me (Ateş)" is a prime example of this and my vote for President Slap while "Bleeding In My Blood" has screaming that any screamo fan will appreciate.

2024's 'Feels Like Home' has better recording, is much faster/screamier, and is generally pretty damn awesome, which is apparent in the first 10 seconds of opener "Arms So Tired Ill Never Let You Slip Away". There are some more serene moments as well as calmer jams (like "12 Brings Loneliness", "Heart So Cold", and "Feels Like The Last Time") but it's the head-swaying repetition of "The Things You Have To Say", the jarring momentum of "My Face In Your Eyes", and the swirling radiance of "I'm Yours Tonight" that really make this release feel like 9 LAGOONS OF DEATH hit the mark.

I'm very stoked on this project and can't wait to hear what's next. If the speed of release continues we could definitely expect something else this year.

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DISCOGRAPHY

2022 - 9 Lagoons Of Death cassette LP (stream/donate/buy here)

2023 - Killtrocity cassette LP (stream/donate/buy here)

2023 - Soon I'll Be Gone digital LP(stream/buy here)

2024 - Feels Like The Last Time digital LP (stream/buy here)

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(2024) 9 LAGOONS OF DEATH - "My Face In Your Eyes" (from 'Feels Like The Time')

https://youtu.be/d8ZD00BKDpI