Since its formation around 2007,
Wrekmeister Harmonies
has evolved from an avant-metal collective producing monstrous drone symphonies to a more stripped-back, lyric-focused doom-folk unit consisting of founder
J.R. Robinson
and musician/vocalist
Esther Shaw
. 2018's
The Alone Rush
was the project's most direct statement yet, containing stark, unflinching lyrics about blindness and isolation, as both
Shaw
and
Robinson
faced the grieving process following personal tragedies.
We Love to Look at the Carnage
is similarly grim and sorrowful, yet also hopeful and passionate, finding positivity in the most dire situations. The arrangements are minimal but resonant, with shining keyboards and
's gorgeous violin playing accompanied by soft, steady percussion from
Thor Harris
.
's distorted bass guitar adds a spike of tension during several key moments, but it's still applied in a way that seems soothing rather than suffocating. The album's only other guest is
Xiu Xiu
's
Jamie Stewart
, whose whirring, clanging electronics are subtly layered in the mix. He also makes a brief vocal cameo during the unsettling "Still Life with Prick Cancer," which has possibly the most
song title imaginable. At the center of the album is "Coyotes of Central Park," a gentle ode to moonlit dancing that is perhaps the group's most conventionally lovely song. "The Rat Catcher," however, is a chilling account of a struggle with drug addiction, ending up with a storm of feedback in anticipation of judgment day. "Immolation" ends with a dramatic vocal performance from
, who bitterly rants about how intense feelings of love have been replaced by emptiness. The album is emotionally devastating, but it speaks to the power of persistence. While music dealing with similar subject matter can be harsh or alienating, the band perform it in a manner that feels sympathetic and ultimately healing. ~ Paul Simpson