Pegah
“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”
― Haruki Murakami
The Wrath Within is the second full-length album by the German Doom Metal band Atramentum. The album’s title reflects themes of inner turmoil and personal challenges. The cover art’s color palette complements this concept: red symbolizes anger, conflict, and bravery, while the black lines evoke grief, mourning, and death. The two wolves featured on the cover embody duality, representing opposing forces such as fear, anger, and sorrow versus love, hope, and peace.
The album begins with the soothing sounds of the sea and seagulls, perfectly setting the scene for “Lighthouse” and marking the start of the story. The lighthouse symbolizes guidance and protection, a theme reflected in the protagonist, who serves as a metaphorical beacon, as expressed in the lyrics. The song features both clean and brutal vocals, each style evoking distinct emotions. Unlike the other tracks, this one is less sorrowful, conveying a sense of hope and a light in the darkness. “Living in Dystopia” takes on a darker tone, immersing listeners in a gothic atmosphere. The track’s soundscape and lyrics exude a profound sense of darkness, vividly portraying life in a society marred by suffering, as its name suggests. Next, “Higgs Field” delves into the concept of a universal field of energy believed to exist everywhere. The rhythm slows down with low-tempo guitars, creating a sense of imbalance and emphasizing themes of the end of the world. “Back to Soil” opens with a high-tempo guitar riff that feels aggressive but transitions into a bittersweet and romantic conclusion, portraying two lovers dying together and returning to the Earth. “Emptiness Inside” revisits the doom metal style, narrating the overwhelming feeling of emptiness after betrayal by someone deeply trusted. The soundscape is steeped in sorrow, capturing the profound sense of loss and despair.
“Window” serves as a pathway to the outer world and symbolizes humanity’s desire for exploration and freedom. Paradoxically, it tells the story of a man who feels isolated, sitting by the window as he tries to write down his thoughts, longing for the world beyond. The soundscape captures these emotions vividly; with each layer of sound, the frustration and loneliness become palpable. Perhaps he is doomed to remain there forever—who knows? In “No One Escapes,” the pace picks up with fast rhythms as the song narrates the story of a person held captive and turned into a slave. Though he desperately wishes to escape, his condition is too dire to allow him to run, and no one comes to save him. “The Noose” paints a harrowing picture of a man hanging in an attic, reflecting on his final moments before death.
The central theme of “Another Life to Die” revolves around feelings of absurdity and a longing for death as a means of attaining salvation. Following this is “Farewell,” which, as the title suggests, narrates an emotional goodbye to a loved one and the emptiness that follows. Unlike the other tracks, this one carries an undercurrent of wrath that permeates the soundscape. “Path to Salvation” portrays a harsh reality: the fleeting illusion of standing high on a mountain, only to be mercilessly dragged back down to the ground, left unable to rise again. “Lake of My Essence” opens with a profound sense of lost identity, evoking a dreamlike atmosphere. It feels as though the protagonist is recounting a surreal dream where scenes constantly shift, ultimately concluding with his death, lying in a lake of his own blood. The final track, The Wrath Within, encapsulates the album’s central theme: inner struggles, overthinking, and the emptiness that follows heartbreak. It highlights the futile search for solace, where everything seems meaningless, leaving the protagonist doomed to suffer without relief.
Atramentum excels at conveying deeply personal emotions and introspection, crafting a pure doom metal album, particularly through its evocative lyrics. Each track tells its own story, making this album highly recommended for fans of bands like My Dying Bride, October Tide, and Tiamat.
Label: TeufelsZeug Records
Release date: January 24, 2025
Website: https://atramentum1.bandcamp.com/album/the-wrath-within
Country: Germany
Score: A clean 4.0/5.0
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