Indwelling
And My Eye Shall Weep

Once again, I will take on the honor and the burden of introducing the masses to this American band dedicated (surprise, surprise) to a very particular Brutal Death metal. The Indwelling, a group perhaps even less known than those I usually review, were a completely random discovery for me, but they left me pleasantly surprised from the first listen. Although their musical offering does not differ much from many other bands, I must agree that this band has a very personal and by no means predictable style.

First of all, in the spirit of nonconformity, the Indwelling give a typically Christian character to their lyrics, albeit dwelling on the darker and more mysterious side of religion: I don't think it's a commercial operation, and the proof is not only in their calm and never overly explicit attitude but also in the empirical evidence (namely, the total ignorance this band faces from fans, magazines, and reviewers). If you try typing "“Indwelling review”" into "the most important web search engine" (a paraphrase to avoid hidden advertising), you will see what I'm talking about; no result that somehow relates to this group.

The ten tracks that make up this album each stand out from one another, testifying to the care these guys put into the composition: the songs are structured and never banal, with a certain attention to detail that, without being obsessive, gives the work an aura of seriousness and professionalism that one wouldn't expect from a debut underground band. The technical skills of the Indwelling are an additional note of praise for this CD: it is surprising how newcomers can play so well and without even a flaw. The riffing is complicated but not so much as to make the product unlistenable and boring; on the contrary, most of the time, it is quite engaging. The speed of the execution highlights the skill of the musicians without losing impact or personality in the songs: the tempos are very varied, and alongside the typical genre surges, we find slowdowns that are never overdone or soporific, rich in backbeats, virtuosity, and stop 'n go. Finally, an almost perfect vocal performance, the voice every Death Metal fan would want to hear on an album; a deep growling, but not ridiculous, interspersed with truly expressive screaming.

It's impossible not to mention the presence of two instrumental tracks, among which “Whited Sepulchre” stands out, with its very peculiar and truly captivating sounds.
A special praise goes to the production, perfect for the proposed genre, clean enough not to muddle the sounds and allow each instrument (even the bass!!) to be distinguished, but not so much as to make the songs sound cold and not aggressive.

Lyrics like those proposed by the Indwelling, combined with this type of music, create a work with very strong hues, of great content and sound impact. Behind plots of enviable power lies a calculated and unsettling mood, though not negative; thus, the calm fury (excuse the oxymoron) of this group impresses, managing to devastate without resorting to imagery but betting everything on their music and message. Technique marries with sonic violence, and from this union arises “…And My Eye Shall Weep”; an album that will not please the majority due to its decidedly extreme sound (I emphasize that it is uncompromising Brutal Death) and will not appeal to fans of the genre due to the themes addressed, which I am sure will be enough to keep many potential listeners away. I especially urge the latter to shelve their stubbornness and intransigence and give a listen to this album which undoubtedly deserves top marks: very high technical and compositional quality, a highly personal style, and an intelligent mood make this album a gem... but for a few, though...