Album Review: Deafheaven – New Bermuda (ANTI)

5 tracks long & coming in at just fewer than 47 minutes, New Bermuda is an eye-opening & mind-blowing affair. Listening to it is a lesson in just how progressive black metal can be putting many bands within the same genre to shame.

Not content to stay within the borders of their genre, New Bermuda transcends across several musical styles to create one of the most intense & fascinating albums I may ever have heard.

To try & describe exactly what is going on throughout the sensory experience that Deafheaven have created is a mammoth task & I can only plead that you take the time to listen to what is an album filled with crushing heavy metal & darkly melodic moments that fit so well together you’ll wonder how it is even possible to create such inspiring & heart-warming music.

Luna at over 10 minutes long never overstays its welcome; in fact you’ll wish it hadn’t ended. A myriad of brutal vocals & bone-crushing riffs with a catchy rhythm breaking things apart keeps the balance of heavy & melody perfect while remaining so unique. Any worries about the song not being able to sustain the level of brutality on show are easily dismissed by the constant changes it goes through.

The song twists & turns like a snake but never feels disjointed, the sudden drop to soft melodic guitar playing & drum taps will leave you open-mouthed & even a bit emotional. You’re part of something incredible here & the moment the heaviness is brought back might be one of the finest pieces of music I’ve heard in the last few years.

The anticipation for the melody to break in Baby Blue builds to such a point that you’re almost on the edge of your seat, the excitement & nervousness of what comes next is a glorious feeling. This is what music should be doing to you as a listener, making you want to hear more, getting excited about the next verse or riff.

If you can only listen to one song though, I strongly suggest that you listen to the epic wonder that is Come Back. A song packed with such quality song-writing, such aggressive black metal riffs, such intense, demanding singing & the most enrapturing melodies to appear on the album so far.

New Bermuda is easily one of the most impressive pieces of work that has come out in a long time. Inspiring, lifting, beautiful, soulful, fascinating, exciting, stylistic, powerful… the list goes on & on.

Buy this album & hear greatness.

Full Tracklist:

1. Brought to the Water
2. Luna
3. Baby Blue
4. Come Back
5. Gifts for the Earth