EMPTINESS – NOWHERE SPEAKS

The album opens with 'Nothing But The Whole (Part 2)', a direct continuation of the band's 2014 release. Picking up exactly where its predecessor left off, the track immediately immerses the listener in an experience that feels as though it has been unfolding long before the first note is heard. Suffocating distorted riffs merge into an oppressive wall of sound, heightening the album's psychological tension and creating an unsettling yet strangely captivating introduction that leaves you eager to hear what follows.

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'The Threat' continues the album's lingering sense of uncertainty and unease. Distorted, chaotic riffs intertwine with slow, almost trance-like drumming, while dark, restrained vocals emerge like distant whispers from beneath the dense instrumentation. Rich in atmosphere and simmering aggression, the composition steadily draws the listener deeper into its unsettling world. 

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The title track, 'Nowhere Speaks', continues the album's oppressive atmosphere. Rather than taking centre stage, the vocals linger in the background like a shadowy presence, whispering and hissing their way into the listener's subconscious without ever demanding full attention. Beneath them, melodic guitar passages and restrained drumming create an uneasy sense of calm, while the bridge builds anticipation through subtle ambient textures, leaving the constant impression that something unsettling is about to unfold.

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'Words To Wind' pushes the album's unsettling atmosphere to its absolute limit. Dispensing with conventional melody, groove, and easy accessibility, the track unfolds like a slow, hypnotic ritual whose oppressive intensity never loosens its grip. The suffocating atmosphere brings Portal to mind, not through chaotic riffing but through the same overwhelming sense of claustrophobia. Around the midpoint, eerie murmurs and ominous ambient textures briefly emerge from the darkness, adding another layer of psychological tension before the song descends once more into its crushing soundscape.

As the album enters its final stretch, 'When The Whole Arrives' places the bass firmly at the centre of the composition. Its prominent lines, supported by deliberately raw and unpolished drumming, establish a dark, hypnotic foundation that perfectly suits the song's oppressive atmosphere. Above it all, whispered, distorted vocals drift through the mix like a lingering presence, while occasional ethereal melodies pierce the dense soundscape, creating a striking contrast that makes the composition feel even deeper and more unsettling. 

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'Next In Line' is another masterclass in atmosphere, conjuring the feeling of wandering through a vast, lightless cavern where distant whispers and dripping water seem to emerge from every direction. Clean, suspenseful guitar melodies initially create a hypnotic sense of calm before darker riffs gradually take hold. As the whispers grow increasingly unsettling and the pace intensifies, the song never abandons its melodic foundation, instead allowing tension and melody to coexist in perfect balance.

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The journey reaches its conclusion with 'All For Nothing', where EMPTINESS brings the album's oppressive atmosphere to its devastating climax. The vocals are at their most sinister, hissing through the dense soundscape while slow, deliberate drumming and towering instrumentation create the sensation of unseen arms pulling the listener ever deeper into the abyss. It is a haunting finale that showcases the band's remarkable songwriting and leaves a lasting impression long after the final note has faded.

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With Nowhere Speaks, EMPTINESS once again refuses to follow convention, crafting an album that values atmosphere and emotional weight over immediate accessibility. Oppressive, hypnotic, and deeply immersive, it rewards patient listeners with a uniquely unsettling experience that lingers long after the final note. A remarkable and uncompromising addition to the band's ever-evolving catalogue.

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SCORE 9/10

REVIEWED BY SWAMPY