Label: Independent
Date: January 9th, 2021
Devastating Light is a post/doom metal band coming from Finland and “I Have Already Failed You” is their debut EP. The entire EP was played, recorded, and produced by Teemu Toikka who is the only member of this band. The main influences are Neurosis, Old Man Gloom, Amenra, Cult of Luna, Envy, and Swans and this can be a guide to what you can expect in this release. The main theme of this EP is about a man suffering from depression and becoming a father while the world is ending around him.
I admit that I am quite careful when it comes to bands like this. I just don’t know in what mental state the authors of this kind of music wrote their lyrics/music. The music on this EP is pretty simple and direct. The same can be said for the lyrics. Throughout the EP, you will be showered with a great deal of depression, hopelessness, the nothingness that erupts from the speakers. Although the album cover shows sunlight behind the trees, don’t expect any light here. You can only hope for gloominess, darkness, and melancholiness. What I didn’t like was that the vocals were pulled back compared to the other instruments. Also, I would single out that the EP needs a dose of complexity because after some time it’s not interesting to listen to very simple melodies for a few minutes. Given that it is a debut and that Teemu did everything himself, it can be said that the end result is quite decent.
“I Have Already Failed You” is a solid release that will be appreciated among the fans of the band Amenra.
