SUMAC, “Ecstasy of Unbecoming” (Thrill Jockey)
Northwest supergroup SUMAC (Aaron Turner of Mammifer and Old Man Gloom, Stranger freelancer Brian Cook of Russian Circles, and Nick Yacyshyn of Baptists) have been making thinking person’s heavy metal since 2014. They released two exceptional albums in 2018: American Dollar Bill – Keep Facing Sideways, You’re Too Hideous To Look At Face On, a collab with Japanese experimental-noise-rock god Keiji Haino, and Love in Shadow, a four-song excursion in extended, labyrinthine prog-metal (the shortest track is 12 minutes long) that they recorded live with Kurt Ballou at Robert Lang Studios. SUMAC realize that a perpetual onslaught will just numb listeners, so they’ve mastered the fine art of quiet/loud dynamics and shifting time signatures. They build suspense, and when the time comes to fire all of their guns at once, the impact is all that much more potent.
“Ecstasy of Unbecoming” is the nearly 17-minute closing track on Love in Shadow, which Thrill Jockey Records’ PR describes as “a sonic homage to both the innate warmth of human magnetism and the cold realities of corrupted love—jealousy, obsession, perversion, addiction.” That sounds intriguing, but it may be difficult to discern without a lyric sheet, as Turner’s gruff eructations will likely elude the understanding of all but the most seasoned death-metal listeners. No matter. SUMAC’s sonics are the main event here.
“Ecstasy of Unbecoming” begins with spare, forlorn guitar redolent of ’90s slowcore giants Codeine and light tom-tom hits before momentous cymbal crashes and Turner’s extended power chords and gnashing feedback rupture the calm. A martial rhythm gathers momentum and staccato, battering-ram guitar and bass riffs signal that we’re heading into battle. But eventually we get a respite while Turner lets off a solo that conveys both burning agony and blissful tranquility; it’s fantastic. Of course, SUMAC ultimately burst back into spasmodic, bombastic life to bring this epic to a proper climax. Thus, Love in Shadow ends with a charred exclamation point. Talk about getting bang for your Bitcoin…
SUMAC play the Sunset Tavern on Saturday, January 12 with Tashi Dorji and Divide and Dissolve.
