Has Withering Soul finally unlocked their full potential, or will their latest album, Passage of the Arcane, lead us down a path of sonic disappointment? A decade has passed since Withering Soul last graced these digital pages, and a lot has changed. Back in my high school days, Madam X slapped a 2.5 on Adverse Portrait – a score I'd wholeheartedly agree with. It was… well, fine. Enjoyable, even, but ultimately unfocused. Their Moonspell-esque gothic vibes felt awkwardly grafted onto their Dissection worship. It was like trying to mix oil and water, or maybe black metal and a romantic comedy – just didn't quite gel.
But here's where it gets controversial... Withering Soul underwent a significant transformation. In 2021, they dropped Last Contact, a record that largely ditched the Type O Negative-style vocals and cranked up the blackened intensity. They beefed up the riffs, tightened the compositions, and while some gothic elements remained, they felt far more integrated and natural. It was a definite level-up.
Passage of the Arcane, their fifth album, continues down this darkened path, centered around the weighty theme of "human experiences traversing into cursed oblivion." So, the burning question remains: have Withering Soul truly discovered a path to subliminal qualities, or will Passage of the Arcane prove to be a false promise?
In many ways, Passage of the Arcane feels like a logical and sensible progression from Last Contact. Imagine Dark Fortress's atmosphere being brutally forced to life with death metal-infused Dissection riffs. That's the sonic landscape Withering Soul is cultivating. They've distanced themselves even further from goth rock than on Last Contact, embracing a more blistering melodic black metal sound. The low, clean croons of their past are gone, replaced by frontman Christopher's powerful, hoarse screams, which now dominate the vocal delivery.
And this is the part most people miss... But the songs are still incredibly catchy, packed with strong, hooky riffs and seamless transitions between diverse musical ideas. You'll find a death metal grime staining the sonic tapestry on tracks like "Grievance Eludes the Light" and "Among Covetous Eyes," while the sheen of synthesizers coats "Gallery of the End" and "Burden of the Valiant." Clearly, Withering Soul is a talented bunch, and Passage of the Arcane gives everyone a chance to shine. Guitarist Frank G. lays down a bright, melodic solo on "Gallery of the End," drummer Rick hits slick fills on "Grievance Eludes the Light," and bassist Joel drops fat, sneaky lines on "Trajectory." Withering Soul isn’t reinventing the wheel here, but they've certainly crafted an album that surpasses their previous efforts.
There's a genuine rawness and aggression lurking within Passage of the Arcane. The opening trio of "Attrition Horizon," "Grievance Eludes the Light," and "The Monolith Embodied" sees Withering Soul swinging with a heavyweight's might. Christopher and Frank G.'s guitars pummel the listener with power chord-heavy, tremolo-picked riffs that are winding, thrashy, and frost-rimed. As Passage of the Arcane progresses, things become more exploratory, but the band never lets up on that initial intensity. The punchy production makes Rick's kick drums really thump, and Joel's bass cuts through big time during the chuggier, groove-oriented moments (like on "Trajectory"). There's an embarrassment of good riffs to be found here, thankfully clear of filler, with the exception of the closer, "Burden of the Valiant" which even manages to redeem itself. In many ways, like Dormant Ordeal's blackened counterpart from earlier this year, Withering Soul embodies aggression, delivering some truly cut-throat metal on Passage of the Arcane.
However, Withering Soul is held back from achieving true greatness by a certain lack of variety in crucial areas. While the riffs are plentiful, almost every guitar lead on Passage feels somewhat identical. They often consist of basic eighth-note arpeggios laid over tremolo riffs that don't really add much to the underlying chords (examples include "Attrition Horizon," "Gallery of the End," and "Burden of the Valiant"). It's a shame that Withering Soul couldn't bring the same level of creativity they have for rhythm guitar to their leads. Similarly (and somewhat ironically), vocal monotony becomes an issue, as Christopher relies solely on one style of scream throughout the album's 41-minute runtime. Perhaps a touch of gothic bass singing wouldn't go amiss, as a welcome surprise? Now, these complaints might seem like nitpicks, but they are prominent and persistent enough to somewhat dampen my enthusiasm for Passage of the Arcane.
Withering Soul assembled Passage of the Arcane using familiar ingredients from the sub-genre, but tight songwriting and strong performances elevate the material beyond the ordinary. Though it's an immediate album in many ways, Passage was a grower for me, as repeated listenings revealed subtle details and nuances in how the pieces fit together. If you appreciate riff-centric and melodic black metal, this is an easy recommendation. Withering Soul may have reduced their sonic palette over the years, but this downsizing has only made them leaner and meaner. Passage of the Arcane is a lean, mean listen.
Rating: Very Good
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Liminal Dread Productions
Websites: witheringsoul.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/witheringsoulband | instagram.com/witheringsoul_77
Releases Worldwide: November 14th, 2025
So, what do you think? Does Withering Soul's refined sound resonate with you, or do you miss their earlier gothic influences? And what about the vocal performance – is the single scream style a strength or a weakness? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
