III

Every Dunbarrow album has a hauntingly classic sound of, in the band’s own words, “an eerie rawness.” But their third album feels like you’ve discovered a mysterious half-century old recording tucked away in a decrepit abandoned mansion. Perhaps there’s a note attached, begging its courier to beware. Alas, whoever possessed the tape apparently never survived. ...that is to say, it feels like there’s a solemn story to this album, not just in the lyrics, but in the sound itself. Much like
the eponymous debut of Black Sabbath, the band uses subtle sound effects to dramatically set the scene for its mostly clean tones and masterful use of open space for which the band has become
known. But unlike their first two albums, this one does see the band branching out just a bit into heavier, more distorted guitars. The result is a much more in-your-face sound, while retaining the
Haugesund, Norway quintet’s masterful proto-metal sound.