Bent Sea - The Dormant Ruin
Release Date: September 5th, 2025
Give Praise Records
Belgian/UK grindcore band, Bent Sea, was formed in January 2011 by drummer Dirk Verbeuren (Soilwork, Scarve, Megadeth). After numerous split albums and e.p.s, their first full length album, "The Dormant Ruin" has been released. The band features a talented group of individuals. Main man, Dirk Verbeuren who handled drums and guitars on the album was joined by Sven de Caluwé (Aborted) and Shane Embury (Napalm Death, Lockup). This release also features guest spots from, Kevin Sharp (Venomous Concept, ex-Brutal Truth), John Cooke (Napalm Death, Venomous Concept) and Sylvain Coudret (Soilwork,Scarve).
Chaos arises rapidly with the first note eruption of, "From The Beast's Mouth". In true form of the genre, the track is a punishing 1:19 in length. Hitting hard and departing before the unsuspecting victim knew what had happened. "Apathy And Irony" is a bludgeoning force, without compromise to the band's intentions. The third track, "Tidal Fire", forces submission and creates complete pandemonium without rest. "Curtailer Of Conceit" shatters and bewilders in a furious tidal wave of mayhem. An impending doom is soon realized as an enraged wall of crashing musical intensity materializes. "A Scopic Radiance" is a minute long inflamed song, provoking the fires of an already burning landscape into eventual ash. Ferocious in its torching, laying waste to the remaining scenery. Next, "Shapeless Ones" is irate in a wild pummeling. Mercy not being a phrase honored by the attacking forces. "My Fall" is a break to recoup after Bent Sea's ambush. Focusing on a different approach to their sound. The victim, obviously left perplexed to their situation, looks around for some sense of understanding. After the 3:02 break of the previous track, "Meat Trade Misery" sees a renewed bombardment, callous and brutal. I wonder if this track is a stance against the inhumane corporate production of meat lyrically. "The Final Corridor" is a :43 second ominous soundscape introduction to "Paragon Of Inhumanity" which is a short lived chaotic song connected to an interesting sample. Perhaps a possible relation to "Meat Trade Misery" in its message exists.
"Locked In Glitch" is intemperately conceived. A hurricane of destruction breaking structures that housed those seeking refuge. The twelfth track, "Ominous Reversal" is a savagely focused peeling back of rancid sonic flesh. Exposed wounds left to fester after a salt bath treatment.
"Prodigious Blight" is an interesting track starting out in a catchy yet confused state. From there it throws the listener off guard with a strangely sweet-sounding ending. Next, "Vermin Burning" piles the dead high to set aflame. At the :30 mark you can visualize the smoldering pile settling in on itself. After that, more are stacked semi-ceremoniously to fuel a continued burning. "The Voice They Cannot Be" is a battery that retreats temporarily half way through and finishes off with an angered twist of a sharp object. Next, "Below The Cold Void" is dark mood building experience that lives up to its name. "Sharpen The Blade" is another track that carries a proper demonstration in the song that accompanies it. It also has a neat catchy part at the :46 mark that is in contrast to the chaos present elsewhere on the album. The 18th track, "Stifled And Dreaming" is an unlit soundtrack that offers a glimpse into a weary mind that is clinging to the last of their aggressive tendencies. After a short rest, the individual finds the drive for violent pursuits again on, "Erased From The Earthly Crust". A 1:30 of remorseless blood-shedding. The album ends with, "The Dormant Ruin" that adds proper closure with dreadful wind like sounds. It brings to mind the peering over of calamitous landscapes once full of life. Harshly burned, stripped of existence.
The new release by Bent Sea is what you would expect from the talented musicians involved. Do yourself a favor and indulge in the chaos.
bentsea.bandcamp.com/album/the-dormant-ruin
Release Date: September 5th, 2025
Give Praise Records
Belgian/UK grindcore band, Bent Sea, was formed in January 2011 by drummer Dirk Verbeuren (Soilwork, Scarve, Megadeth). After numerous split albums and e.p.s, their first full length album, "The Dormant Ruin" has been released. The band features a talented group of individuals. Main man, Dirk Verbeuren who handled drums and guitars on the album was joined by Sven de Caluwé (Aborted) and Shane Embury (Napalm Death, Lockup). This release also features guest spots from, Kevin Sharp (Venomous Concept, ex-Brutal Truth), John Cooke (Napalm Death, Venomous Concept) and Sylvain Coudret (Soilwork,Scarve).
Chaos arises rapidly with the first note eruption of, "From The Beast's Mouth". In true form of the genre, the track is a punishing 1:19 in length. Hitting hard and departing before the unsuspecting victim knew what had happened. "Apathy And Irony" is a bludgeoning force, without compromise to the band's intentions. The third track, "Tidal Fire", forces submission and creates complete pandemonium without rest. "Curtailer Of Conceit" shatters and bewilders in a furious tidal wave of mayhem. An impending doom is soon realized as an enraged wall of crashing musical intensity materializes. "A Scopic Radiance" is a minute long inflamed song, provoking the fires of an already burning landscape into eventual ash. Ferocious in its torching, laying waste to the remaining scenery. Next, "Shapeless Ones" is irate in a wild pummeling. Mercy not being a phrase honored by the attacking forces. "My Fall" is a break to recoup after Bent Sea's ambush. Focusing on a different approach to their sound. The victim, obviously left perplexed to their situation, looks around for some sense of understanding. After the 3:02 break of the previous track, "Meat Trade Misery" sees a renewed bombardment, callous and brutal. I wonder if this track is a stance against the inhumane corporate production of meat lyrically. "The Final Corridor" is a :43 second ominous soundscape introduction to "Paragon Of Inhumanity" which is a short lived chaotic song connected to an interesting sample. Perhaps a possible relation to "Meat Trade Misery" in its message exists.
"Locked In Glitch" is intemperately conceived. A hurricane of destruction breaking structures that housed those seeking refuge. The twelfth track, "Ominous Reversal" is a savagely focused peeling back of rancid sonic flesh. Exposed wounds left to fester after a salt bath treatment.
"Prodigious Blight" is an interesting track starting out in a catchy yet confused state. From there it throws the listener off guard with a strangely sweet-sounding ending. Next, "Vermin Burning" piles the dead high to set aflame. At the :30 mark you can visualize the smoldering pile settling in on itself. After that, more are stacked semi-ceremoniously to fuel a continued burning. "The Voice They Cannot Be" is a battery that retreats temporarily half way through and finishes off with an angered twist of a sharp object. Next, "Below The Cold Void" is dark mood building experience that lives up to its name. "Sharpen The Blade" is another track that carries a proper demonstration in the song that accompanies it. It also has a neat catchy part at the :46 mark that is in contrast to the chaos present elsewhere on the album. The 18th track, "Stifled And Dreaming" is an unlit soundtrack that offers a glimpse into a weary mind that is clinging to the last of their aggressive tendencies. After a short rest, the individual finds the drive for violent pursuits again on, "Erased From The Earthly Crust". A 1:30 of remorseless blood-shedding. The album ends with, "The Dormant Ruin" that adds proper closure with dreadful wind like sounds. It brings to mind the peering over of calamitous landscapes once full of life. Harshly burned, stripped of existence.
The new release by Bent Sea is what you would expect from the talented musicians involved. Do yourself a favor and indulge in the chaos.
bentsea.bandcamp.com/album/the-dormant-ruin