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Released on January 6, 2016 via Independent
Patience is the watchword when it comes to Nonsun. They’ve taken a long time getting this, their first full length, together and it’s clear from the start that they’re not about to provide any short cuts for the listener either. Over the first half of opener ‘No Pity for the Beast, No Shelter for the Innocent’ they let chords ring out so long it’s like they’re hoping to age them like fine wine. Gently picked guitar sketches out a beautifully desolate landscape for several minutes before the the drums come in, scurrying uneasily along it. They often sound on the verge of rolling out of rhythm entirely and going entirely freeform, but remain just on the edge of coherence. At times they threaten to tear the whole thing apart – it’s the musical equivalent of leaning back on your chair and almost falling over. It comes so close to catastrophe it feels almost exhilarating when it slots back into place.
They’re not a band shy on confidence either – recording and self-releasing an 83 minute droned out metal record isn’t something you do if you don’t think you might be onto something. And it’s a bold move to stare down your influences as brazenly as Nonsun do too. They clearly owe a debt to Earth and with titles like ‘Ashes of Light, Demons of Justice’ and ‘Peace of Decay, Joy of Collapse’ they’re not afraid to show it. It’s a testament to how impressive the Ukrainian duo’s début album is that they can invite comparisons with the Seattle legends and not wither before them. ‘Ashes of Light, Demons of Justice’ evokes the spirit of those early Earth records with a fuzz drenched riff swaying listlessly while sombre, cleaner notes ring out above them. The drums again tumble into off-kilter patterns, ever shifting, never settling. It could in other hands have turned into an exercise in hypnotic repetition, something to sink into and let your mind wander – but every time you start to drift off it tosses cold water in your face. It demands your attention. It increases in pace and urgency, shuffling awkwardly into sludgier territory before drifting off into shapeless drone. This section lingers on a little longer than it really needs to, almost having disappeared altogether before bursting back into life.
Besides an early flourish the drums are largely sidelined in ‘Crystal Empty’ relegated to a muffled beat that’s barely more than a click track for some meandering guitar noise. This is the album’s only major misstep – unfortunately when your track lengths reach double digits your mistakes are that much more damaging. For the first time the record is happy to slide into the background, and is poorer for it. Though Goatooths guitar is the heart of the record without Alpha’s drumming it feels lifeless. But when they’re in sync they’re a force of nature – as the twin heavy beasts ‘Peace of Decay, Joy of Collapse’ and ‘Hearts Heavy Burden’ showcase. After a long brooding introduction the former takes flight with webs of riffs and double kick powered feedback strewn chaos, whilst the latter reimagines post-metal as a more loose, fluid style, dripping with sorrow as it slouches toward an unfathomable abyss. It seems to find its logical conclusion in final track ‘Rest of Tragedy’, a steady drift of beautifully melancholy guitar melody draped across a plodding strum that builds to a cacophonous finish.
Black Snow Desert is an album that demands the listener lay back and let it seep in through their pores. Nothing comes fast with Nonsun. They take their time, letting the guitar ring out endlessly as if weighing the tone before putting it to use, taking the doom/sludge template they toyed with on EP Sun Have Mercy and transporting it to a less structured realm, stretching and refracting it out into infinity. At 83 minutes there is undoubtedly fat that could be trimmed, outros that stretch out into nothing in particular, sections of aimless guitar noise that may have been better left out. Given the leap they’ve made from their earlier recordings to this it’s safe to assume their instincts for self-editing will develop. Black Snow Desert is a fascinating and occasionally arresting set of studies in tone and weight that is a fine work in it’s own right, as well as one that suggests Nonsun are only going get better with time.
