More than a few bands out there have tried their best to bring to life creations that embody what it means to self-destruct. Whether it be in the form of something cathartic and calculated or an all-out flurry of madness that doesn’t stop once you hit play, there are countless takes out there for such a theme. But, there are those that manage to take it a step further when pushed to great lengths. Turbid North has never been a stranger to power or catharsis or anything that may fall within that range, but after dealing with some of the darkest times for the band both within and without the pandemic, something exceptional was made to capsulate such titanic themes to really drive home the modern age of nihilism that we find ourselves in.

To be properly effective at bringing about undeniable self-destruction and the dismantling of the spirit to the fullest extent, you need to have contrast. An unbridled assault upon creation itself can get the job done in an undeniably bloody manner, but there is nothing like a creation that knows precisely how to be patient and explode at the most opportune moments to bring about an experience that shakes the listener to the very core. In no small manner, “The Decline” executes that in staggering fashion! Pulling from the foundations of their sound and amplifying it all with far more aggression with a darker presence to match, Turbid North’s return after eight years is of the sort that demands attention be paid to all that it brings to the table and dares to pull off with its arsenal. The very sky seems to fall down and the earth splinters open to the very will of Turbid North with their power downright monolithic even in the album’s smallest moments so that when “The Decline” does come around to its bursts of raw fury, nothing can stand in its way nor survive the storm that begins to form the moment one steps into the record. With proper swells of intensity brought to life by true agony and pain before pulling back so that the darkness creeps forth just a little more upon the unsuspecting consciousness of the listener, “The Decline” knows exactly what its goal is right from on the onset with the record as whole feeling like an implosion long overdue with cataclysmic consequences for all those stuck in its path.

On all levels be it thematically or sonically, Turbid North leaves nothing but supreme devastation in their wake with the terrifying visages of planetary destruction alongside the deepest deterioration of the soul and mind by all those who take all of what’s to be had here. “The Decline” is a massive creation that needs to be taken in moderation for if you take it all in at once, there’s no guarantee you’ll survive with those that find themselves before the full might of Turbid North unable to wretch themselves away from such a stunning sight.

LISTEN to “The Decline” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Turbid North on Facebook here.