From the shadowed back-alleys, fog-enfolded streets, and ramshackle buildings glaring down in geometric absurdity that is Innsmouth and was INNSMOUTH cometh death and slouching blackness. Less a continuation than a convoluted spawn of ancestral anti-cosmology held tenuously within the same universe, the Australian foursome that is OLDE OUTLIER, here to bring us From Shallow Lives To Shallow Graves…

Exploding in orgiastic glee, ‘The Revellers’ wastes no time, ascending/descending riffs being battered by war drums, a surprisingly clear and loping bass heard throughout, vocalist Appleton’s unbridled howl from 2:41-2:53 letting us know it’s about the emotion here. That gut-born and gut-wrenching stare into the face of the primeval. Approaching traditional metal at times in both tone and arrangement, I’m hearing a reverence for the likes of OMEN and CIRITH UNGOL here that I didn’t – or wasn’t near as out front – in INNSMOUTH, and it suits the lurky-mirky of the opener perfectly. There are times when styles shift on a dime, which to some may come across as unfocused or rambling but, even when the final section of ‘The Revellers’ slips into a LAKE OF TEARS-ish syrupy yet buoyant coda, it sounds natural.

‘The Pounding Of Hooves’ takes up the majority of the debut on its own at nearly eleven minutes but demands attention – as does most of From Shallow Lives To Shallow Graves – by remaining in constant flux. Appleton’s delivery is impressive throughout, all levels of snarl and growl that aren’t guttural delivered with fervor, yet understandable for the most part. And when it’s not, the “What was that?” factor adds to the archaic vibrations so present. ÚLFARR comes to mind in the chant/groaning found hither and yon, escalating the feeling of otherworldliness and detachment.
From ashen doomed crawl to cymbal-crashing thunder, to mid-paced blackness, it’s all here for the finding.

We race to the end bestride ‘All Is Bright’, sharp and cutting riffwork slicing. While I’d like to hear a more beefed up, robust sound, the lack of a second guitarist gives From Shallow Lives To Shallow Graves its own definable sound in a land where far too many strive for naught but the same as what they already have. The solo that garnishes the latter 1/3rd of the finale bleeds legitimacy and emotion. Not for everyone, nor intended to be such, OLDE OUTLIER’s debut is a shot across the bow of the ship called modernity. Don’t slink away after this one, bands like yours are more needed than ever now.
Review By: Lord Randall

OLDE OUTLIER
From Shallow Lives To Shallow Graves
Iron Bonehead