Album Review: Cloaked Climax Concealed – 0N0

The obscure Slovakian Atmospheric Doom/Death Metal trio 0N0, consisting of ‘S’ on vocals, ‘A’ covering guitars and vocals and ‘T’ on guitars, vocals and programming, return with “Cloaked Climax Concealed”, the latest in a string of EP’s that have surrounded their two previous full lengths, aiming to serve, once again, as their label has commented, a ‘tantalizing precursor’ to the third full length they are currently working on.

The two tracks on the EP, “The Crown Unknown” and “Hidden In The Trees (Sail this Wrecked Ship)” span eleven minutes in total, but due to the hypnotic nature of the sound feel longer and serve, for anyone unfamiliar with them, as an interesting insight into their work, although these two tracks possibly feel a little darker than those from the previous full length “Reconstruction and Synthesis”.

Although their sound is at its core Doom/Death it’s so much more than even the atmospheric aspect suggests. A sea of sludgy guitars alongside more dissonant elements, a vocal mix of on one hand guttural Death Metal growls, backed by haunting distant cleans with Industrial elements also woven into the construct with the drums beating out a steady but wonderfully eclectic beat, with a volume that also ebbs and flows between loud and brutal to more softer quieter moments. All of this making a dark but dreamy, slightly hallucinogenic listen that is both atmospheric and emotive as well as up in your face brutal. It certainly is way beyond the standard Death/Doom remit and will appeal to those with a more adventurous taste in Metal always on the lookout for something a little outside of the standard format.

“Cloaked Climax Concealed” is out now on Transcending Obscurity Records and should appeal to fans of bands such as Godflesh, Scorn, Drug Honkey, Jesu, P.H.O.B.O.S., and The Angelic Process and Ufommamut. Available from Bandcamp as a 7”vinyl & digital download or just a digital download.

Rating – 4/5