My
understanding of what the suffix “–core” means in metal was never clear. It
seems that whenever there is a “–core” element then the music has got to have
some connection to hardcore/punk. But more often than not this doesn’t happen. A
better description, outside of any method in songwriting would be: Extreme
music with intense delivery and expression of emotion in a raw manner.
Immortal Bird have this element in their
music. Not only in their riff sequencing and assaulting drumming, which are
dominant throughout the album, but with the intense performance of the singer.
Her delivery is constantly on the edge and when she sings/yells “The journey is
a lie. There is nowhere left but further down” you know that despair, loathing
for someone else or the self, hatred and nihilism are at the core of “Empress/Abscess”.
The
lyrics give the listener the opportunity to create short stories inspired by
the sparse description of environment and the inner dialogue. When this happens
it helps come closer, emotionally, to what the musicians are expressing. Too
vague and no images can be created. Too precise and it lacks emotional
reference.
While
I prefer the music to create the environment, from which the vocal lines and
lyrics come from, this feels that they turned the table and followed another
route. It feels like the music was created to support the vocal delivery,
creating a linear personal expression and the music was built from top to
bottom. As a result it feels like the whole of it serves as a means of
narration. There is a sense of urgency throughout, about something horrible
that is imminent and is expected. Like a traumatic experience happening again
and again.
When
it hits the nail it hits it hard. “Saprophyte”
is the best constructed song and the built up that can cause an abundance of
emotions. It starts with a short repetitive riff and the drums that hold a
steady pace, with a high pitched lead guitar leading the way for the vocal
lines. Then it hits you slowly:
“Push
words through my teeth
Watch
them flutter like wounded insects
Only
to sprawl twitching on the ground.”
Those
lyrics can create strong images with the metaphor preparing for the next ‘wounded
insects to flutter out’. The drums create greater circles when she yells: “We will
not survive. We cannot survive” and the lyrics “I offered tender flesh. You
brought your heavy hands” give a strong sense of what is being described here.
“She is an abscess, masquerading as an empress. A sparrow passing for an ibis.”
Maybe these lyrics reveal what exactly is Immortal
Bird.
After
all, everything is in vain because “We are all museums of flesh and fear.
Exhibits of failure and false light.”
All
the songs are crafted in the same way, but they are not of the same level. “Empress/Abscess”
shows that they are close at having their own trademark sound but the song
structure fails sometimes at maintaining the sense of agitation and urgency
within the environment that they create. For example the last song, “And Send Fire” has two endings. One in
the middle, where an assaulting outro follows and then a third section of
ambience that has no reason for being there. End it at the seventh minute and
then you are done and I am done and we are all done.
They
are not there yet, but they are well on their way. Overall, since they created
this intense impact in a short album, with no air and fillers, then I’d say it
is successful. The lyrics may or may not be based on actual experiences but art
can be an act of redemption for us all, even if “the idea of redemption is
insulting.”
