by Zane Castillo (@statefree)
Emma Ruth Rundle’s music has always walked the edge of doom metal. Her dark lyrics and melancholic solo outputs have seemed likely to lead to an inclusion of doom metal. So it is no surprise that the folk singer has teamed up with Louisiana sludge/doom metal band Thou for the collaborative seven track album May Our Chambers Be Full. If there was ever a record made for these turbulent times, May Our Chambers Be Full is it.
The album works so well on many levels as Rundle and Thou are both able to showcase their own signature sounds and effortlessly blend them together. There are many standout tracks on the record including “Killing Floor” which is a wonderful fusion of Rundle’s somber lyrics and Thou’s heavy instrumentals. The loud guitars envelop the song but somehow bring Rundle’s voice to the forefront. Bryan Funck’s screaming vocals provide a beautiful harmonic contrast to Rundle’s quiet vocals as it weaves in and out throughout the track.
“Out of Existence” is an epic track with thundering guitar chords and Funck’s vocal range put on proper display. Funck yelps out a phenomenal chorus with the cryptic lines, “This one is predetermined/This one will find no favor/This one is weight unburdened/Dragging down our lives.” The intensity of Funck’s vocals and the clashing guitars are offset by Rundle’s gentle voice.
The record closes with the gloomy and atmospheric “The Valley” which is nearly nine minutes long. Rundle’s glorious voice dips and soars over pensive strings before colliding with Thou’s brutal guitars. The song leaves you with a sense of unease that you can’t seem to shake off. It is a fitting end to a fierce album. Overall, May Our Chambers Be Full is a remarkable collaboration between musicians that know how to push their respective sounds into captivating territory.