RIYL: Pyrrhon, The Body, Mizmor

New York post-metal duo Scarcity played their first show as a band at St. Virus a few weeks back, opening for label mates Chat Pile. I had the pleasure of Speaking with their vocalist Doug before the performance. We talked about influences, loss, and even a bit about the rising Jewish presence in post-metal, a topic I love.

Scarcity’s debut record, Aveilut, is a crushing confrontation with our universal mortal abyss. Equal parts tremendous and unfathomable, the record sonically dives head first into the mist and leaves you there. This mist came through with their live performance. While standing in the back of the room with plenty of space around me, I still felt claustrophobia of the music. Impossibly loud and sonically overbearing, Scarcity trapped me within their wailing guitar walls. By the time they had finished performing Aveilut in full, I had forgotten I had a physical form, as I was transported elsewhere. Aveilut is a musical experience for a universal horror. It is uncompromising, gives you no answers, and every glimmer of hope and despair is momentary. The record is its own internally combative organism.