A one-man productive Greek black metal machine Dodsferd has put its name in the running for the “miserable” black metal album of the year with Suicide and the Rest of Your Kind Will Follow. For those who followed Dodsferd evolution thus far, Suicide … may feel like an out-of-character surprise that it is. Who knows what kind of mood main man Wrath was for this, but my bet is on him feeling despondent. Gone is reckless pissed off attitude and addictive black’n’roll of Death Set the Beginning of My Journey. What could have been a camp buddy to Horna and Sargeist before, now feels a lot closer to hopeless pessimism of Xasthur and Shining.

Having seen the light of day back in May of 2009, the title track may be a perfect soundtrack to a fall. Steady non-wavering mid-pace rhythm allows layering and developing guitar hooks onto the monotonous main riff structure. As much as the track appears one-dimensional, it has interesting off-shoots throughout, keeping the listener wallowing in his/her own mire. Suicide and the Rest of Your Kind Will Follow is like walking in the rain. You are uncomfortable at first, cold water getting down your neck and behind your shirt. Then, amidst the misery you almost feel defiant, determined to reach your final destination with a quick drum pattern change, only to dissolve into an acoustic final realization that wherever it is you are going, you will arrive there desperately sick from all this cold and wetness.

The other album’s cut, His Veins Colored the Room, starts out as a screeching horror flick and builds in even more of a dreadful atmosphere towards the end, however, this track also finds room for layered melodies. The feeling of unavoidable disaster is prevalent, and Wrath also builds in some jolting synthesizer car break-like squeals for further effect.

Throughout these 37 min Wrath really impresses with his vocals abilities. His howls, a lot less over the top than Silencer, peel the skin off raw, dementia weighing heavily onto listener’s mind.

Suicide and the Rest of Your Kind Will Follow descends into the dread with style. Produced above the level of your average DIY bedroom black metal, it has just the right amount of refinement to be audible, yet emphasizes the urge to bang your head against some dark corner in the most remote room in your dwelling when all seems lost.