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Somewhere between southern gothic, post-punk, and doom rock lies the unique niche occupied by North Carolina’s Wailin Storms. The band’s rustic, cavernous tumult merits comparisons to everyone from 16 Horsepower and Swans to Type O Negative and Christian Death—tied together by dissonant heaviness and emotive storytelling. Behind walls of terrifying noise lie potently frightful tales. The quartet’s punishing riffs and gripping lyrics become more visceral on this third LP. Rattle takes Wailin Storms to their darkest, scariest territory to date…

If Wailin Storms set out to profoundly scare everyone, it’s hard to think of a better method than Rattle. It’s a road-weary, earnest, and unflinching look at human frailty. It explores carnal desires, pain, and fear, only to point at ultimate demise. While its aura remains mysterious and infectious, the album’s disturbingly realistic account makes it one of the most disturbing listens of the year.

Score: 9/10 – Metal Injection