Whitechapel bathes my ears with good, good gravel

Usually, I’m not the biggest metal listener, especially not the type of metal Whitechapel is, but a friend of mine recommended this album to me, and I was interested enough to give it a spin.  

The album has a tendency of bathing my ears in gravelly guitar sound throughout, which is great. That’s not to say that it doesn’thave melodic parts, though. The melodic parts of the album shine through in the breakdowns of certain songs and meld with the gravelly sounding guitar really well. 

“Prisoner 666” is a good example of the phenomenon as well as being a good opener for the album. It sets the stage for what’s to come musically and features the gritty and low guitar sound that pervades most of the front half of the song. Around the middle, the track features an intense and melodic breakdown followed by the combining of both phenomena to create a satisfying and sonically interesting end. 

My favorite song on the album, “Hate Cult Ritual,” is another good example of the guitar bathing my ears in sandy sound. Not only does the guitar stay gritty and consistent, but the drums add an inexplicable energy that elevates the song. The drums help to break up the sandiness of the guitar, too. 

“Bedlam” stood out within the album because of the deepness of its sound. As someone who is usually drawn to deeper, more bassy music, “Bedlam” fits my vibe incredibly well.

This song was unique in the way the darker, more somber guitar still brought the energy and momentum of previous songs with its drums. I honestly wish it was longer, as it was one of the shortest on the album. 

As mentioned in previous paragraphs, the drums have a way of bringing energy instantly and knowing how to keep it and the momentum it brings throughout the album. The drums are equally as important as the guitar in these songs, and the marriage of both could instantly hook metal fans who are looking into Whitechapel. 

The reason I listen to drone metal or sludge metal more than heavy metal or deathcore is because of the drums. When listening to most types of metal, I find that the drums are not as engaging as I’d like them to be. Sometimes the drums come in and then lose all of the momentum given to the song. This aspect makes the song less likeable, and I tend to just focus on the guitar anyway, so drone metal and sludge metal feel like almost taking out that middleman. Whitechapel destroys my problem with the drums and actually goes all out. 

After a 30 second intro, “Mammoth God” has drums that come in guns blazing and have a fieriness to them I’m not familiar with in metal music. The riffs throughout the song conform around the drums, becoming faster and more in-rhythm to support the drumming. It’s quite beautiful, actually. 

In short, if you are a metal fan or are interested in fast, gritty and energetic music in general, “Hymns in Dissonance” is a great pick. I will be listening to more Whitechapel in the future and hope listeners get the same value out of the album that I do.