ninehertz

Back in the days when ninehertz put stoner/doom gigs on in Sheffield, there was a band called Kraschenbern who were a constantly revolving group of local musicians who had a remit of one short practice to write and get to know each other and then play a gig the next day. They’d fill support slots when someone dropped out last minute. It was a creatively spontaneous project.

I raise this as it appears Believe in Nothing were formed in a similar manner, coming together for the first time on stage in Eastbourne – the difference being they’ve used that as a springboard to a more permanent concern. And ever since, they’ve been building a reputation that has reached out far beyond their southern seaside town. I head in excited, yet with little if any prior exposure to them.

It is easy to quickly establish that this is more than decent, as nice, crunchy guitars rip forth, combining with acerbic vocals. And it gets better – a blistering noise that isn’t quite sludge, not totally hardcore, and has a noise-rock feel without ever really being so… and that’s why it’s so cool. The vocals – occasionally spoken, add further layers of vitriol.

Latter on they spawn Full of Hell styled terrifying atmospheres, with screams from out of the mire adding to the unease, an electricity felt even in the moments it carries restraint. The awesome Boiling Stone is positively evil sounding doom, verging towards the black noise majesty of Indian – here and elsewhere stinging with a venom not heard much since the UK sludge underground greats Grey Widow departed. When this goes dark, it heads into the most depraved areas of sludge.

Their combinations of textures and genres makes for a rewarding, constantly engaging listen – you can be having your ears scorched off one minute, into ethereal doom ambience the next, overlain with near black metal spikiness. There’s so much going on yet it is coherently and expertly curated – there’s even time right at the end for some eerie electro into Amenra-ish climax to add another angle. I had high hopes, but this surpassed them, for Rot is a magnificent album.