With a name that matches their sound better than most, Underdark are treading the same roads as Svalbard, Deafheaven, Dawn Ray’d and more as they keen mournfully into the void. The Midlands group have pulled no punches on their Church Road Records debut and have created a concept album that is, according to vocalist Abi, focussed on ‘the long term effects of Thatcherite neoliberalism and the slow-burning disaster they’ve caused for people’. Managed Decline alternately burns with the anger felt by every member of the band at the way the Midlands has slowly fallen apart and weeps for the people affected by all this, in a protest against all the band hate.
Underdark open the record with a short atmospheric piece titled ‘The Past We Inherit, The Future We Build (28th February 1972)’ before breaking into howls, shrieks and wails on the first of two titular tracks – ‘Managed Decline I (1st April 1988)’. The song is their to set the scene and also provide a mood, which it does instantly. Being drawn into the soulsucking, destitute world that has been created is almost too much, but the energy it takes to push through makes the experience so rewarding. As the first proper song, and longest on the album at nine minutes, it’s an intimidating start to an LP but by varying between seething harshness and melancholic softness the song works its way under the skin and will stay there for far longer than expected.
“A protest against all the band hate.”
‘Employment’ follows, and tells the story of a miner during the mine closures – they struggle with poverty, a drinking problem, a lack of direction, and eventually alcohol gets the better of them and they pass away. With such heavy subject matter, the music needs to match it, and luckily enough it does. Post-black metal majesty is being poured into the listeners ears throughout, with a depth of sadness difficult to find even in the very best films that continues through every one of the seven songs on the album.
To leave you with one final note, the band offer up the second titular song as the closer for the album. ‘Managed Decline II (2nd November 2004)’ is another long one, clocking in at a little over eight minutes, and again is full to the brim with despair, anguish, and rage. Telling the story of a child escaping hometown horrors, it almost feels successful, until pulling back to show the bigger picture of a town being sucked dry of any youth, any hope, and any chance of a future. Through sombre guitars and piercing vocals, Underdark have found a way to draw the listener into this world they’ve painted until they sweep them away on tender guitar lines, only to drop them again with a thunderous crash.
Taking influence from the best and creating something equally powerful is not an easy task, but Underdark have unequivocally managed to do so in triumphant fashion. Managed Decline is a phenomenal, near flawless piece of emotive post-black metal that inspires tears to flow unbounded, and will provide significant cause for thought to anyone who listens intently enough.