Redwood Hill - Descender (2013)

   Post-black metal had intense uprising from the mid '00s and for several occasions it was able to break into the mainstream by bands like Alcest or Agalloch. This reinterpretation of black metal might also count as a way of "hipsterization", but from another perspective it offered much more than other directions (atmospheric black, depressive black ect). Instead of just focusing on one specific feature of the genre (like on atmospheric sound for instance), and using it up as not just one of the main determining features, but basically the only one determining feature, various other influences have been involved from progressive metal to drone metal. The possibilities were pretty wide, thanks to the combinability or flexibility of post black, that came from its essential minimalism. And by Redwood Hill it was approved that even sludge metal was possible to involve. 

   Since the expression of an obscure perspective is a definite intention of both post-black metal and sludge, but from different approaches, the combination turned out to be pretty effective. The demoralizing, desperate hopelessness, and the unfriendlier, noisy sound of sludge are in present in diluted form thanks to the softer, melancholic approach of post-black. And meanwhile they giving the whole thing a heavier and less melody focused touch than usual. Post black couldn't sound so hopeless by itself, and its aesthetical intentions were reduced. If it's about melancholy, in this form it's deeper than ever, and therefore not as good for meditation as it used to be. Also less compatible for the usual target audience. This could happen if something truly broken gets revealed instead commercial gloom and self-pity. It was a back and forth advantageous influence for both involved subgenres, and the results are more diverse than how they could ever be by themselves. "Descender" is a unified, well-composed underrated masterpiece. Also it could become a potential favorite for wider audiences.