Album Reviews : Subterranean Disposition – Subterranean Disposition

Subterranean Disposition first reached the public eye (ear?) quite a few months ago  with “The Most Subtle of Storms” appearing on Soundcloud, with the band being totally unknown. How I even stumbled across it is a mystery, but I was captivated for all fourteen minutes and fifty seconds of it. Since then, the one-man band has signed to Hypnotic Dirge Records and released the full album.

The one man behind Subterranean Disposition is Terry Vainoras, who you may know from Cryptal Darkness, The Eternal and Insomnius Dei. Well, this new project is actually a bit of a follow-up to the latter, originally conceived as a sequel to the material Mark Kelson and Vainoras had written for Insomnius Dei’s Illusions of Silence. Those familiar with the aforementioned bands will know that the historical connection guarantees one thing: this will be dark. And you’re not wrong.

With five tracks taking up fifty-five minutes, this is a release that really takes its time. But don’t let the first half of opener “Between Apes and Angels” (well, once the monkey sounds have died down) fool you into thinking this is your average melodic doom album. While the basis of Subterranean Disposition is monstrous, brooding riffs broken up by somewhat eerie clean guitars, there are a whole lot of extra additions that make this such an interesting and ultimately memorable release. Heaven The Axe’s Phoebe Pinnock makes a guest appearance on “Prolong This Agony”, with the type of female vocals that you simply won’t see coming. Halfway through “Seven Sisters of Sleep” it explodes into jarring riffs and noisy screams that have a hint of something industrial, “The Most Subtle of Storms” has some stunningly used saxophone, and closer “Wailing My Keen” goes a little bit psychedelic.

In saying all that, the one thing that really stands out is Vainoras’ stellar vocal performance. Deep growls, melodic cleans, harsh shouts, croaky almost-spoken word; it’s all there, and occasionally at the same time. There are bands with three or four vocalists that still don’t have this range. And it works brilliantly in keeping the release enthralling from beginning to end.

There simply isn’t a flat moment on this release. Just get it.

Band: Subterranean Disposition
Album: Subterranean Disposition
Year: 2012
Genre: Doom
Label: Hypnotic Dirge Records
Origin: Melbourne, Australia
https://www.facebook.com/SubterraneanDisposition

Track list:
1. Between Apes and Angels
2. Prolong this Agony
3. Seven Sisters of Sleep
4. The Most Subtle of Storms
5. Wailing my Keen