The pandemic and the many resultant lockdowns affected INTHEWHALE, with the depression, anger and uncertainty felt reflected on their new album Vanishing Point (Riot Records). An Alt Rock duo from Denver, with Nate Valdez on guitar and vocals and Eric Riley on drums and vocals, INTHEWHALE’s new album is a dark and angry serving of Grunge and Metal.

The fast, frenetic and furious ‘Crosses’ – a wonderfully loud reminder that we will all die, culminating in a blast of harsh vocals – starts this concise seven track record with a bang. A momentum which the oddly named ‘Jeffrey’ continues – it is an over three minute whirlpool of pummeling guitar, pounding drums and punk like vocals. Cynicism, melancholy and rage bookends the album, with the appropriately named final track ‘The End’ – after an hypnotic intro Nate and Eric wish for the sun to swallow us whole, to the tune of a measured, doom laden riff.

Vanishing Point is a dark and quite downcast album, reflecting a tumultuous time in their own lives and the world as a whole. Whilst it is abrasive on your first encounter, it’s charms will soon seep in – with the grunge like atmosphere, the metallic heaviness and sludgy groove working well together. These three things combine to good effect on ‘Antlion’, which boasts a crushing groove, incisive drumming and a big, bruiser of a chorus. ‘Drug Dealer’ is a brute as well, with an accelerating groove and a hearty dollop of harsh vocals towards the end. They twin the melancholic atmosphere with a message in ‘Smoke Break’ – a reminder to anyone suffering from depression that they are not alone, and help is out there.

On their first full length album, albeit at 25 minutes a rather short one, INTHEWHALE have made a record which mixes the downcast aura of Grunge and Alternative, with the sludgy grooves and heaviness of Metal to good effect. Who knew rage and melancholy could be so enjoyable.

Buy the album here: https://orcd.co/inthewhale-vanishingpoint

7 / 10

THOMAS THROWER