Saturday 21 September 2019

THURM

BandTHURM
GenresPunk / Post-Hardcore / Post-Metal / Black Metal Sludge
Related artistsAmber, Archivist, Anteater and Anopheli.
CountryGERMANY
Years Active2014-2017
Song: "Faroe"
Album: "Thurm"
Year: 2015
For fans ofHope Drone, Hexis, Rorcal, Celeste, Plebian Grandstand, Tentacles, We Are Among Storms, Still, Red WaterNic (aka ██████), ['selvə], Amber, The Pax Cecilia, Buried Inside and Underdark.
Label(s): Narshardaa Records
This post's artist is from the August+September 2019 Mix. This is track #8.
You can download: the August+September 2019 Mix#8+9 right here or get the new October 2019 Mix#10 here

Today's post begins waaaaay back in 2013 when I first started Zegema Beach Records. The very first ZBR release is Amber's 'Amber'. I still fucking love Amber, but the band broke up back in 2014. Vocalist Anna had recently left the band and joined new bands under my radar, and it wasn't until early 2019 when a friend (hi sour patch bro 💗) recommended that I check out THURM that I made the discovery that the vocalist Anna is one and the same. I've also been jamming the new Archivist LP which, it turns out, also features Anna. Goddamn, she's everywhere!

So, THURM were from Germany and played a dark, venomous and throbbing brand of black metal most comparable to the almighty Celeste, but with vocals that are even more destroyed. They released but a single 12"LP titled 'Thurm' in 2015. I will waste no time in commenting on the fact that I saw a video from 2016 of the band in the studio, and they broke up the following summer after a tour...so I have to ask...where is the material from the studio? Gawwwwwwwdammit.

Anyhoos, let's discuss that incredible self titled LP, shall we? It begins with "Modern Slavery Exists", an outright assault on the senses. It reminds me a lot of Rorcal and Hexis, and hits a killer groove come 2:08 that explodes at 2:34, which Hope Drone would most definitely high five. There is a ray of hope that shines through once minute three hits, but the positive sound is very rare and seldom found on this full length. The relatively short "Faroe" is an even denser ball of rage, as it barrels through in only 3:11 but manages to tear the listener apart with utterly unrelenting black metal. One of my favourites is "Children of Darkness", a fucking ripper with drums so fast that you'll need to see the doctor due to perforated eardrums. Oh, and there's a section in this track at 1:16 where there is an apocalyptic breakdown that is one of the most evil and sinister things I've ever heard. "FGM" features a sick, cavernous and thunderous midsection that is essentially half of the song while "Enough" is the longest, most epic song on the record, weighing in at 6:27, and therefore being much more Celeste in length. "Shores" is a slow, brooding nightmarish ordeal that straddles a drum beat until 2:30 when they lay on the devastation. Closer "Dawn" is my personal favourite. Why? Because it's fucking awesome. Please expand? Okay. First, it's set at a breakneck speed but includes a ton of ridiculous quick shifts and stop/starts. It may not be the longest song here but it certainly has the most parts, and each part is its own beast that fits together like the ultimate black metal Voltron. Oh, and the epic conclusion brings to mind Buried Inside with dual vocals and an unsettling lyrics on repeat, "We cannot rebuild what is lost forever!"

I was late on this band, but goddammit better late than never.

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DISCOGRAPHY

2015 - Thurm 12"LP (stream/donate/download here)

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(2015) THURM - "Dawn" (from 'Thurm')

(2015) THURM - "Children of Darkness" (from 'Thurm')

(2015) THURM - "Modern Slavery Exists" (from 'Thurm')

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THURM additional links
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