By John Dickie
Dutch grim doom sludge group The Fifth Alliance have gone and made an interesting album with Unrevealed Secrets Of Ruin. It’s interesting because while the vocals are at the opposite end of the tone spectrum of the band, the band also managed to achieve a genuine doom sound with a sort of sharp modern fuzz; like putting nitro on sludge. Less valve, more Fender Marshall. I’m not sure if this is their debut album as I never investigated. But it’s decent.
First thing I noticed was the vocals. They are a bit in your face. In a good way mind. Singer Silvia does well all over the record and I did think she was a bit like Alan Dubin but she has a while to go before she sounds like a deranged serial killer, still, with some practice as they say. Maybe something that weighs the album down is its shift in styles, possibly the kindest negative I could give, while its great hearing the band take on so many styles it’s worth the pondering as to how good a whole album of sludge or hardcore would be. Still, as to what genre they pick they handle it well.
Opener 'Hollow' is a long and structured bleak atmospheric doom juggernaut that reminded me stylishly of Dragged Into Sunlight. 'Unrevealed Secrets Of Ruin' picks up the pace a bit sounding slightly like Deftones. 'Reminiscing' slows the pace down a bit, going a bit more sludgey. 'Intermezzo' which is Dutch for anal collapse, is a lovely little instrumental that would accompany a vicious sex scene in a film perfectly. 'Seven Seven Seven' is a total album stand out, here the band are on the form of the album delivering a track that shows what great potential they have. Switching between various styles of doom this is one you have to check out. 'Analgesia' which is Netherlander for anal collapse, is a spit in my mouth ya durty classic. Short and perfect, it wants to drag you into a cupboard and finger you. Final track 'Standing Tall' is a perfect final to a rather delicious and heavy album. Reminding me of a speeded up War Iron this is the best track to have a wank to.
Overall I wasn’t impressed with the band immediately but after giving the album a few listens its charm came through. It’s well made and sounds like something from a band you would expect to see at Roadburn. Go give it a listen. Also have a wank to it.
