You like Austere?

Their early work was a little too typical DSBM for my taste. But when "Only the Wind Remembers" came out in '08, I think they really came into their own, commercially and artistically. The whole EP has a clear, crisp wall of sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. They've been compared to Woods of Desolation, but I think Austere has a far more sophisticated sense of melody and beauty that they incorporate into their black metal.

In '09, Austere released "To Lay like Old Ashes", their most accomplished album. I think their undisputed masterpiece is "This Dreadful Emptiness". A song so emotional and horrifying, most people probably don't listen to the lyrics. But they should, because it's not just about the hopelessness of life and the importance of suicide. It's also a personal statement about the band itself.



Okay, jokes aside, I think To Lay like Old Ashes is among the best DSBM has to offer. Black metal often relies on lo-fi production as a part of the presentation, but I think Austere is a band that benefits from a much cleaner sound. The first album and the associated EPs and splits sound more like standard DSBM, very repetitive with a wall of sound and wailing vocals.

Anyway, they are back. The first single is Sullen, and it falls pretty neatly in with the same sound as the 2nd album. Listening to it is very nostalgic for me, as Austere was one of the first black metal bands I ever got into back in the late 00s.

Full-length "Corrosion of Hearts" to be released in April 2023 on Lupus Lounge (sublabel of Prophecy Productions).

I've had them on my pending list for a long time, this could be a perfect opportunity to dive into their music.

I remember being pushed back by their vocals at first, but when I listened to ...Old Ashes from start to finish, it clicked; those howls really enhance the sadness and pain. New track sounds good, perhaps a bit more straight forward BM, not so much DSBM.

Amazing!!! Cant wait for that

They put out a music video as well, which seems like clips from their performance at Prophecy fest with some atmospheric editing overtop.



What sticks out to me right away is how the rhythm guitar moves underneath the more airy picking patterns and wall-of-sound barre chords. I can see a lot of bands just hanging onto 1 chord in a lower octave to add more weight to what the picking patterns are doing - which isn't necessarily bad by any means, as it's complimentary, but what Austere is doing here gives the same result but is much more musically interesting in the process without being necessarily complicated. Also gives an otherwise generic atmospheric black metal song a pretty great groove!

I dig the tune! I also never really got into Austere, mainly just because I never gave them a thorough deep-dive. But this seems like a good time to finally check them out! Them and Thy Light really need to fucking tour together

didn't see that coming, a band i was very into back in the 2000s
the sound is definitely still there, will look forward to this

It’s sad that Ill Omen is done but cool that Austere is back.

Definitely based on my very minimal research, their early material is far superior to what you just shared.

I've never listened to this band but the song you posted sounds good so I'll give this new record a shot.