In an ideal world, Loathing & The Noose would elevate Faithxtractor to the level of recognition that their immense talent deserves. Ash Thomas, the driving force behind the band, has long been an underappreciated figure in extreme metal. With Loathing & The Noose, he and his collaborators have crafted a brutal and multifaceted album that blends death metal, black metal, and even hints of doom into a sonic maelstrom of malice and grief. It’s a relentless, yet captivating journey that demands to be heard.
Faithxtractor’s sound on this album is a blend of raw aggression and tightly woven extremities, often evoking comparisons to bands like Akercocke and Anaal Nathrakh. However, while those bands have their own distinct flavors—Akercocke with their gothic atmosphere and Anaal Nathrakh with their industrial edge—Faithxtractor channels a more traditional form of extreme metal, rooted in the late-90s death metal sound reminiscent of Nile, Hate Eternal, and Formulas-era Morbid Angel. There’s a dense and crushing heaviness to the album, with intricate guitar work and relentless rhythms that move through a spectrum of aggression, building an intense and immersive experience.
The opening track, “Noose of Being”, sets the tone for the record, a vicious death-doom hybrid that captures the essence of dark and oppressive metal. The track’s menacing atmosphere blends well with the intricate riffing and blast-beat intensity, providing an immediate taste of the aggression that permeates the album. From there, the aggression becomes even more pronounced, with tracks like “Ethos Moribund” and “Flooded Tombs” offering a disorienting and punishing experience, filled with crushing guitar tones and guttural growls that keep the listener in a constant state of unease.
For fans of black metal, “Fever Dream Litanies” provides a chilling journey into that territory, with its tremolo-picked riffs and eerie atmosphere. It’s a track that highlights the diversity in Faithxtractor’s approach to extremity, blending genres without losing sight of their singular identity. Similarly, “Beholden to Nightmare” stands as one of the most fittingly named tracks, with its nightmarish heaviness and chaotic composition.
But it’s not all aggression for the sake of it. As Ash Thomas explains, Loathing & The Noose is inspired by “malice riddled grief,” exploring themes of rage, melancholy, and the complex emotions tied to living in a world filled with both despair and determination. This underlying sense of sadness and defiance is particularly evident in tracks like “Cerecloth Vision Veil” and the bridge section in “The Loathing”, where the music gives way to hauntingly melancholic moments before ramping up into another burst of furious aggression.
One of the standout moments of the album is “Caveats,” which builds an eerie atmosphere before exploding into a full-throttle assault. The track’s spooky buildup showcases Faithxtractor’s ability to create mood and tension, pulling the listener into a darker, more atmospheric realm before unleashing chaos. This ability to balance atmosphere with brutality is what truly sets Loathing & The Noose apart from many other extreme metal offerings.
What Loathing & The Noose ultimately delivers is more than just a brutal listening experience—it’s a cathartic journey through rage and sorrow, one that will stay with you long after the album has ended. Faithxtractor has proven with this record that they are a force to be reckoned with in the world of extreme metal, effortlessly blending aggression with emotional depth in a way that few bands can. If you’re a fan of brutal and complex metal, Loathing & The Noose is an essential listen.