Fissure Of Riddles – Stalactites – EP Review

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Channeling post metal, southern metal, stoner vibes and a penchant for shit-kicking riffs, the UK’s Fissure Of Riddles are a relatively unique proposition that defy expectation on Stalactites, their latest EP release.

Vomiting-up-a-lung vocals propel some pretty fearsome tracks with opener “Feral Rising” showcasing an oddly enchanting groove metal meets post-metal mix. “Salt Mines” is a little more faithful in its melodic death metal guise but then some new-wave, Tom G Warrior-esque, wobbly throated vocals (a la Into The Pandemonium), pop up to add another edge to the bludgeoning. It’s all pretty intriguing and marks Fissure Of Riddles as a band to keep an ear and an eye on.

“Illogical Girth” (now that’s a cracking song title….and slightly worrying) is informed by yet another layer of subtly buried groove. Chest-thumping and relatively upbeat, moments of icy black-metal riffing are warmed by molten-hot sludgy rhythms that should contradict one another but instead wholeheartedly complement.

Ending with the epic “Stalactites” and an opening riff that sounds like Slash playing black metal (!), those wibbly-wobbly clean vocals return and Fissure Of Riddles embark on a lengthy journey through warped melody, crunching grooves and raw-throated screams.

These lads have certainly hit on a novel approach with each track taking left-field excursions into surprising realms. Head-scratchingly brilliant. 8/10

Stalactites can be downloaded from the Fissure Of Riddles bandcamp page