Zen Disdain – Inanition
Release Date: 12th December 2024
Label: Self Released
Bandcamp
Genre: Blackened Doom Metal, Death Metal.
FFO: Triptykon, Rotting Christ, Satyricon.
Review By: Mark Waight
“Inanition” is the highly anticipated debut album from Dutch doom/death metal merchants Zen Disdain. Starting out as an ambitious studio project in 2021 Zen Disdain was born out of a desire to create a totally unique brand of dark metal with none of the perceived constraints associated with fitting into any single sub-genre. Following on from the release of their first EP “Premonition” in 2023 and fuelled by the imminent launch of “Inanition” Zen Disdain are currently engaged in a tour of Eastern Europe with plans to hit the road even harder in 2025 by touring further afield and with several festival bookings.
Zen Disdain is Zoya Belous (vocals), Dmitrii Prihodko (guitars), Ivo Bijker (bass) and Ronny Meinders (drums).
Heavy punching opener “Everpresent” really sets the mood for what is to come, it drifts along nicely between dark gothic operatic vocals and thunderous death growls as the awesome doom-laden sonic assault of your lugholes begins in earnest. Faster and marginally lighter, “The Shore” tempts and teases all the way whilst the intensity builds steadily, with Zoya Belous’s vocals being both haunting and intimidating in equal measures.
With deeply embedded symphonic roots “The Woods” is a thing of real beauty, the vocals are at times both devastating and divine. This bleak, heart stopping track frequently offers glimmers and slithers of light or hope before a darkened veil finally descends to consume us all. Lovely!
Blacker than a moonless night, title track “Inanition” burns slow and lingers long, like a shadowy and ghostly spirit. The cold as ice riff literally sends a shiver down your spine. Spiritual Desert has a traditional metal feel to it, with echoes of old-style Sabbath fused with something more contemporary being left ringing in your ears with the heavy onslaught. A good modern twist on an old headbangers staple diet.
Penultimate track “Symbols” imposes complete dominion over you as it blusters and roars relentlessly from start to finish. The opposing forces of guitars and vocals strive for absolute control of your soul. Who finally wins this demonic battle of the ages? In this case, I will let you decide, but I suspect that there are many more skirmishes to come!
After working our way through this fabulous album, “What Remains Of Us” is definitely the right question to ask as we reach the death throes. This final composition, coming in at around eight minutes long, is probably my favourite track overall, in my humble opinion this is a truly exceptional piece of metal music.
You can take comfort from the fact that every track on “Inanition” gives so much more than it takes, and on completion the whole thing will leave you with a deep sense of satisfaction and awe. Yes, you will have to put some work in too, but the rewards are more than worth the expelled effort.
If you are looking for some light relief then you are completely looking in the wrong place with Zen Disdain, but if on the other hand you are looking for something with grit, substance and steel then “Inanition” is certainly worth further exploration. Highly recommended.
(4 / 5)
