Review by Shadowdoom9 (Andi) for Humanity's Last Breath - Välde (2021)

As I believe I've explained before, symphonic blackened deathcore began in the late 2000s with early Abigail Williams and Winds of Plague and would eventually reach its height of popularity with bands like Lorna Shore and Worm Shepherd. Now can we replace the symphonics with Meshuggah-ish djent and elements of atmospheric doom? Humanity’s Last Breath has answered that question with a big fat YES. The band has continued their exploration into deeper darker caverns that has started with their debut!

The 3rd album Valde (Swedish for "Empire") is another towering part of the band's discography. It's as towering as the spirit-filled tower in the cover artwork and as bleak yet stunning as the artwork itself, as are many other works by that cover artist, the late Mariusz Lewandowski. RIP...

"Dodsdans" (Dance of Death) is the intro that hints at different D-words this album can be described as; dark, deathly, depressive, dissonant, downtuned, dynamic... Then it's the atmospheric yet punishing "Glutton". That song and "Earthless" shall make the most emotionless listener become emotional from this brutality. Next track "Descent" is more percussive alongside technical shredding. The occasional orchestra and choir makes things even more apocalyptic, especially in the black-doom-esque sections.

At the end of "Spectre" is a bit of melody that makes it sound like a Gojira track. Adding to that melody is the sparsely used clean singing, balancing that part with the rest of the song's intensity. Still firing away hard is "Dehumanize". Then "Hadean" continues the band's top-notch talent. The monstrous vocals by Filip Danielsson are incredible as always, flowing with the rhythm. At the same time, riffs are fired through by the guitar duo Buster Odeholm and Calle Thomer. From djenty deathcore breakdowns to drummer Klas Blomgren's blast beats, the violent quest for heaviness rolls on! "Tide" continues the riff-wrath while having the band's own epic post-sludge moment at the end.

The instrumental title track, actually spelled "Valdet" with a T at the end, expands on the atmosphere that then rises to another doom march. Bring things up on front, "Sirens" has more of that heavy stank with uncommon melody here and there. The guitar duo can nicely surprise us with their variety. "Futility" has more of the band's blackened djenty deathcore sound. "Vittring" (Weathering) is an absolutely heavy ending track. You just gotta praise those hammering drums, dissonant guitars, and furious vocals.

Valde proves that Humanity's Last Breath can put all their crushing talents into one plate. Massive brutality all around with some touches of melody. This isn't just thall, this is atmospheric black-doom-infused djenty deathcore thall. Not even the most metal of metalheads would know what the heaviest of all is until they try this one for size!

Favorites: "Earthless", "Spectre", "Hadean", "Tide", "Sirens", "Vittring"