Obliteration is imminent: As The World Dies return with their triumphant second offering. “Nebula” is a colossal lesson in crushing death metal and cosmic mysticism. “‘Nebula’ is the quintessence of what As The World Dies is all about,” band leader and scene veteran Scott Fairfax says. “We pushed our musical boundaries and wanted to create an album that was both brutal and thought-provoking. It’s heavier, darker and more profound than anything we’ve done before.”
While we go about our petty business, leading our small and insignificant life under the sun, death is hurtling towards us at breakneck speed: An asteroid named Apophis will come in very close contact with planet Earth in 2029, one day it will surely hit earth! Aptly named after the Egyptian God of dissolution, darkness and chaos, it has the power to obliterate life as we know it. Seriously: it doesn’t get any more death metal than this. Scott Fairfax is well aware of that. The death metal veteran of Memoriam fame is back with his other vehicle of death and destruction, As The World Dies. Three years after their earthshattering and star-studded debut “Agonist”, he’s taking things into space with “Nebula”, a cosmic death metal requiem of colossal proportions.
And with a guy like Scott handling things, you know you’re in for a treat: Aside from his guitar and songwriting duties in mighty Memoriam, he also played in Massacre and supported Benediction on their live endeavours. In other words: Here’s a true British death metal lunatic ready to deliver his boldest strike yet. “I’ve been playing this music for many years that I don’t really care whether something is old school or not,” he muses. “Death metal is the punk music of my generation, I’ve never wanted to play anything else really. I’m in this game since I was 17, which is why I like to spice things up a bit nowadays. On ‘Nebula’, I’ve added some elements I really like – eighties synths and some kind of industrial atmosphere.”
“Nebula” is a gripping, dense and somewhat disturbing masterclass in relentless death metal superiority, bearing all the marks of the genre while yet leaning towards a morbidly symphonic, even progressive side. “I’d rather write melancholic pieces that mean something than fast solos or dive bomb noise,” he says drily. “The prog part indeed is important to me as Genesis or Devin Townsend are two of my absolute favourites.” If the world ever was close to a death metal Genesis, it’s this record! Highly atmospheric, it’s rather a study in human insignificance from a cosmic point of view that classic death metal songwriting. “Atmosphere is everything to me,” Scott nods. “Songs must tell a story, otherwise they’re just a lot of guitars riffs and drums. There are countless bands who do that, we just don’t want to sound the same.”
Drenched in apocalyptic prophesies and a general lack of hope, As The World Dies still prove to be masters of horrid entertainment. To Scott Fairfax, that’s something like a trademark these days. “This band is about having fun even with an absolutely terrible outcome that might be a very close future real life event,” he refers back to that lump of space rock unapologetically hurtling towards us. And why shouldn’t we? There’s zero we can do about it. We might as well crank it up and enjoy the morbid tales of “Nebula”.
Brought to life and recorded by Scott Fairfax in his home studio Riff Central, the second instalment of As The World Dies is therefore less the work of a band and more the work of a dedicated individual – apart from their famously destructive concerts, of course. But that’s the way he prefers it these days: Scott Fairfax is pissed by pretty much everything that’s going on around him and prefers to brood on his own. “I don’t watch TV or the news because it’s so miserable,” he muses. “But I’ve never been one to write songs about flowers and happiness anyway.” He laughs: “That’s just not my strong suit.”
Angry, haunting and miserable songs are, though. “Nebula” is full of them. An album like an uncompromising alien threat to our planet, as unrelenting and indifferent as an asteroid. The end is coming, folks. Let’s all enjoy it while we can
Tracklist:
01 – Apophis
02 – Consumed
03 – Dark Oblivion
04 – I am the One
05 – Blind Destiny
06 – Playing God
07 – Voices Of Angels
08 – Under A Dying Sky
09 – Final Resting Place
Line-Up:
– Scott Fairfax – lead guitars/keyboards
– Darren Mcgillivray – guitars
– Chris Mcgrath – drums
– Bill Richmond – bass
– Jay Price – vocals