Withered - Folie Circulaire
Prosthetic Records
Sludge/Death Metal Hybrid
10 songs (46'09")
Release year: 2008
Withered, Prosthetic Records
Reviewed by Adam
I am always interested to hear a metal band that is attempting to mesh two different styles, especially when I enjoy each style on its own. A prime example of this is Atlanta's Withered. I took a chance on their debut album, Memento Mori, a few years ago after reading that they were a cross between sludge and death metal, two of my favorite styles. I certainly wasn't disappointed. Memento Mori was assuredly more death than sludge, but there were just enough elements borrowed from Crowbar and the like to keep things from sounding stale. Needless to say, I was anxious to hear their next effort, Folie Circulaire, and what changes, if any, they have made to their unique sound.

The name Folie Circulaire stems from a term for bipolar disorder (the literal translation is circular insanity) and could be described as the sound of this album. Take part brutal death metal, part sludge, and sprinkle in a bit of groove and even black metal and you may have an idea of what you're in store for. The opening track/intro, To Embrace..., makes it entirely clear that Withered are not fucking around. Absolutely punishing from the outset, this track sets the table for an album that I feel is much more brutal than its predecessor, leaning even more to the death metal side of things. The titles of some songs seem to be intended to lead into one another, and this is the case with song two, ...the Fated Breath. Picking up right where the opener ended, this is Withered at their most aggressive and punishing. You will notice the production is very, very crisp. In fact, it is so crisp that it is hard for me to listen to the entire album in one sitting. I'm sure this sounds curious, but the riffing at times is so heavy and piercing that it gives me a headache. A good one mind you, but a headache nonetheless. Towards the middle of this song, a toned down sludge passage shows you another side of this band, one that pops in periodically throughout the album. Dichotomy of Exile is an absolute standout of track, a veritable roller coaster of style and tempo changes, it quickly became my favorite track. Drummer Beau Brandon throws in a fair share of gut busting drum rolls and the vocals even venture into black metal territory in moments. Of course, there is also some sludge thrown in towards the end. The first three tracks are a pretty good indication of what the album holds, so I won't waste your time rehashing the same description for the rest of the album. That said, I do want to highlight ...Reveal the Essence of Suffering. As with many other tracks, it starts out in brutal fashion, though it has a very subdued middle that abruptly turns into a crushing end that I could not refrain from headbanging along with. I am such a sucker for this type of thing, as I'm sure most Neurosis fans are, but I just love this type of songwriting technique.

If I had to point to a flaw with Folie Circulaire, I would have to say familiarity. I definitely appreciate the unique style of this band, but as I alluded to in the review, if you hear the first three or four songs, you won't hear much different in the next six. I personally don't mind this, but it does bear pointing out. This, coupled with the piercing guitar distortion, make it nearly impossible to sit through this entire album. For three or four song stretches though, it will kick your ass. Though the proceedings are unquestionably brutal, the riffing has just enough groove and melody that I can say that Folie Circulaire is an accessible affair. That is, as long as you don't mind a headache.
Killing Songs :
Dichotomy of Exile, ...the Fated Breath, ...Reveal the Essence of Suffering
Adam quoted 78 / 100
Goat quoted 85 / 100
Other albums by Withered that we have reviewed:
Withered - Dualitas reviewed by Goat and quoted 80 / 100
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