BY STEVE THIRIOT
In an era drowned by waves of indistinct, recycled sound, Muerto’s "Dust Fire Dust" emerges like a phoenix - or more appropriately, like a celestial body that defies easy categorization. This is an unreal post-black metal escapade through the corridors of existential dread and cosmic wonder. Released on August 23, 2023, the record unfurls like a chaotic tapestry, expertly woven with Penelope Matamoros's vocals, Juan Mondragon's labyrinthine guitar work, Hugo Alvarez's throbbing bass, and Eddel Jared's apocalyptic drumming.
“Tides” sets the stage with a near 10 Min Epic, (note, no track on this album is under 6 minutes) full of lingering dread that is chilling yet strangely inviting, almost like a premonition. Penelope Matamoros' dreary vocals roar like a tempest, pairing with Juan Mondragon's guitar work that feels as uncontainable as the ocean. "Seeker" is a philosophical journey coated in shrieking vocals and a wall of sound that confronts you like a questioning gaze. It’s both the question and the answer, building in complexity as it unfurls.
“The Bearer” is a poignant moment in the album where everything converges, from the primal screams to the gut-punching bass by Hugo Alvarez. The lyrical depth here is existential poetry—unforgiving and honest. “Dust Fire Dust” The titular track is an auditory maelstrom. Here, the band strikes a balance between brutality and harmony, a mirroring of life's inherent dualities. Eddel Jared’s drums are like a cosmic hammer, forging reality from chaos.
“Nightcrawler” This track feels like the apex of the album, a nocturnal whisper that's been amplified into a shout. It's a haunting transition that lays the groundwork for the album's epic finale. “Gravedigger” A consummate closing, "Gravedigger" buries you in an avalanche of sound and emotion. It acts as a sort of epitaph for the journey you've just undergone—a beautiful farewell that leaves your ears ringing and soul questioning.
The Album was mixed and mastered at the appropriately named Utter Silence Studio, the production quality is solid. The sonic textures are both expansive and intimate, capturing the depth and the rawness of each instrument.
Conceptualized by Penelope Matamoros, the album thrives in its poetic and existential narrative. It’s an allegory of life’s cyclical nature of creation, destruction, and re-creation—Dust, Fire, and then Dust again.
Credit must also be given to Ricardo Gonzalez for the cover art that perfectly captures the album’s enigmatic aura, and Brvja Trece for a logo that’s as stark as the themes explored in the album.
"Dust Fire Dust" by Muerto is a cosmic voyage through the tapestry of existence. It might have emerged from the stifling conditions of a pandemic, but it transcends it—serving as a timeless monument to fear, loss, and triumph.
One can only hope that it finds its place not just in the niche alcoves of post-black metal but in the broader annals of currently released music. This is not an album for the faint-hearted; it's a celestial challenge, a journey you didn't know you needed to undertake until it was over. And even then, it lingers, like stardust in the soul. Brace yourself for this cosmic voyage—once embarked, there's no turning back.
Listen to the Album on SPOTIFY