Leviathan: The Tenth Sub Level of Suicide (2003)

Buckle up, the next several posts will be covering various releases from Leviathan.  Leviathan is one of the most important bands in United States black metal.  The band is the project of tattoo artist Wrest, who plays all of the instruments and provides the vocals.  Leviathan is one of the quintessential one-man black metal projects, an act that rose from obscurity to become a leading band in the scene.  And though Wrest has had his issues (legal and otherwise), the band has continued to have a last impact on the black metal scene in the U.S. as well as the so-called depressive black metal scene.

The Tenth Sub Level of Suicide was also the name of an early demo by Leviathan, but this is Leviathan's debut album.  It is also largely considered the band's masterpiece.  It is easy to see why this is.  The album is the sound of complete and utter hatred.  It is an ugly and horrifying album, building an absolutely suffocating atmosphere that never lets up for its entire 71-minute run-time.  That is insane.

From the very beginning of the album it is easy to see that this is going to be a dark and twisted time.  It begins with the eerie introductory track which leads into the fast-paced "Fucking Your Ghost in Chains of Ice", which is one of the heaviest tracks on the album, but also features one of the catchiest riffs, with its groove-laden break.  The next track "Sardoniscorn" features the first real hint of Leviathan's ability to delve into ambiance without losing any of the threatening quality that characterizes most of the band's releases.  Wrest manages to keep things interesting throughout by balancing the harsh and hateful parts with just enough melody that not every song feels utterly hopeless and nihilistic.  "Mine Molten Armor" is another track that is simply incredible with one of the greatest riffs on the album.  The last track, "At the Door to the Tenth Sub Level of Suicide" is a microcosm for the entire album, being one of the bleakest black metal songs I have ever heard.  It is utterly devastating.

One thing that truly sticks out to me in this release is just how amazing Wrest's vocals can truly be.  I use the term "blood-curdling" a lot in describing various metal vocalists, but Wrest's vocals truly live up to that description.  They are so filled with hatred and pain that the listener can feel it creeping up the spine and chilling the blood. 

If there is any real complaint about this album, it is due partially to the run-time.  71 minutes is a very long release and there are moments that feel like filler.  "Submersed" is a three-minute ambient track that really never does much other than break up some of the flow and could easily have been cut for example.

The debut release from Leviathan is absolutely worthy of the lofty esteem in which it is held.  It is a masterful example of raw black metal and one of the darkest albums I have ever heard.  This is an absolutely essential release.