Today we bring you a massive sludged up progressive doom track from California’s QAALM. “Borderlands” is a sprawling 12-minute doom track that paints with a variety of hues to create one of the most forward-thinking and layered doom tracks that you’re likely to hear this year. Of the track the band had the following insight on some of the imagery and lyrical content:
‘This song is largely inspired by the spirits that inhabit ancient civilizations and indigenous land. It’s no secret that there’s a troubling history that plagues generations today. Natives that have been dispossessed, robbed of their resources, forced to live elsewhere. The darkness resurfaces, manifesting itself into disastrous things. Tainting the soil, haunting many of the lost souls that are living in turmoil today. Self deprecation, scarification and the rejection of western religion is also a theme here. Prayers for the suffering and plentiful crops are more so a ritual and of cultural significance. Giving back to the earth as nature intended.’
It’s worth celebrating the beauty of this video as well with stark imagery, performance footage, and it really flows congruently with the vibes of the song and creates a meaningful counterpart to the song. Black, white, and gray tones display the ritual and the passion that the band are realizing through “Borderlands” and after seeing this video along with the song, the two will be forever linked in my brain and more than likely yours as well.
Over the course of this mammoth composition one of the most impressive feats is just how often things move and shift into new positions to change the moods. The rhythm section plays with tempo shifts, while the vocal layering adds depth and textures ranging from death metal to grunge harmonies, and there are plenty of other surprises along the way as well. It’s downright staggering and I for one am looking quite forward to getting the entire record injected into my ears.
QAALM will release their new album Grave Impressions Of An Unbroken Arc through Hypaethral Records on November 1st and you can order it by following this link! Be sure to also follow the band on Facebook for more up goings on with the band!
