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Exclusive Song Stream: Howls of Ebb - "Standing on Bedlam, Burning in Bliss"

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I, Voidhanger is pretty much the label to check out if you’re seeking unusual and aberrant extreme metal right now, be it the nightmarish psych-doom of John Gallow (Blizaro, Orodruin), the esoteric blackened death/doom of Ysengrin, a more whimsical Darkthrone that is Inconcessus Lux Lucis or—like today—the whacked out blackened death trio from San Francisco known as Howls of Ebb.

Formed by Trillion Red’s Patrick Brown under his pseudonym zELeVthaND, this erratic manifest of blackened death metal draws equally from the bizarre ambient landscapes of his initial avant-drone-doom project while retaining subtle similarities with the cryptic chaos of Antediluvian and Demilich. Their debut, Vigils of the 3rd Eye which came out back in early 2014 was so deranged and jarring yet full of beguiling hooks at the same time that it made into my top 10 with ease.

Howls of Ebb are already back with a follow-up to the debut in the form of a mini-LP entitled The Marrow Veil which is due out sometime in July as a 12″ as well as on digital format. Meanwhile grab a small taste of what’s in store through a snippet of the opening track “Standing on Bedlam, Burning in Bliss.” Beginning with an all-out chaotic lead and pulverizing drums it descends into spectral drone accompanied by ZLH’s eerie whispers, then gradually introducing a dissonant doom riff laced within pummeling power chords and blast-beats before closing out with haunting reverb drenched clean notes.

—Saikat K

The Marrow Veil will be released in late July by I, Voidhanger. Follow Holws of Ebb on Facebook.