Faithxtractor - Loathing and the Noose

Labels: Redefining Darkness Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital

Release Date: 10 Jan 2025

Tracklist:

1. Noose of Being

2. The Loathing

3. Fever Dream Litanies

4. Flooded Tombs

5. Ethos Moribund

6. Caveats

7. Beholden to Nightmare

8. Cerecloth Vision Veil

There's an abundance of newly released US death metal doing the rounds right now. As a nation, it has always been prominent but the genre just seems to be growing exponentially over there. After a brief dalliance back in time with my last review, I'm back in the present (sort of) with the 5th and newest album Loathing and the Noose from US duo Faithxtractor. It was released in January and is their second on Redefining Darkness Records, following 2023's Contempt for a Failed Dimension. 

Three days ago I turned 39. How the hell did that happen! Faithxtractor are on hand to help me forget that I’m one year closer to 40 thankfully, with their new album Loathing and the Noose. Launching straight into ‘Noose of Being’, the duo’s death metal is surprisingly metallic and technical, for a sound that’s also so intense. The percussion brings most of that intensity, while the bass adds heft lower down. The guitar work provides much of the atmosphere and musical imagery while the deep vocals remind you that this here album is very much from the US. 

‘The Loathing’ picks up right where the opener left off, albeit for the momentary pause in between. It’s blisteringly fast tempo-wise yet there’s still plenty of time for Ash Thomas and Zdenka Prado to pack it full with subtle and short moments of introspection, as well as mind-bending musical expression. The continuation straight into ‘Fever Dream Litanies’ keeps the momentum level high, while the song itself flits between an illusion of mid-paced death metal and more familiar aural battery. This album is so good and I’m not even three full tracks in yet!

All eight tracks here only just stretch past the 37 minute mark, so there isn’t any time to waste on gimmicks or ponderous interludes. Neither of which are in Faithxtractor’s nature. ‘Flooded Tombs’ goes all out straight away with the nastiest off-kilter death metal you’ll hear anywhere. The instant switch between insane tempos and pensive, yet uneasy atmospherics make the song all the more engrossing. The stupidly good solos and utterly heavy ending help as well!

The scarily fast groove/thrash musicianship and tempos that kick off ‘Ethos Moribund’ dig their heels in, providing an intense backdrop to a killer death metal song filled with intricacy and melody. Speaking honestly, Faithxtractor was a band that was always on the periphery for me; however, not anymore. ‘Caveats’ presents an eerie facade during it’s intro before the duo leap back into yet more technical, maniacal death metal. 

Before you even have time to blink, you’re up to the album’s penultimate song ‘Beholden to Nightmare’ with it’s blistering percussive battery, constant metallic guitar mastery and gnarly vocals. It’s an explosion of extremity that shows no sign of relenting. Closing out Loathing & the Noose with ‘Cerecloth Vision Veil’ is a masterstroke as Faithxtractor pivot from frenetic up-tempo death metal to something that’s more mid-paced and old-school sounding (at least for a time). It’s not too long before everything’s turned up to 11 once again, mixing tempos and ultimately ending on the highest of highs.

This album is a revelation. Dark and brutal enough to satisfy extreme metal’s hardest of junkies while having the melody and lightness (if that’s the right term) to be able to gather in new listeners, who’re maybe taking their first steps into heavier realms. Brilliant!

You can stream and purchase the album on all formats via bandcamp below:-

You can also purchase physical copies from Redefining Darkness Records here - https://www.redefiningdarkness.com

Faithxtractor - https://www.facebook.com/Faithxtractor

Redefining Darkness Records - https://www.facebook.com/redefiningdarkness