Song: Happiness Is Not An Option No Pleasure In Life - Happiness Is Not An Option No Pleasure In Life is a U.S. Depressive Black Metal project active since 2009. The duo from Florida has capitalized only this demo, 'Happiness Is Not An Option', released in February 2010 in a box with a limited edition of 400 copies with Stiker and Pin through Primal Vomit Records . In 2013 War Against Yourself decide to reprint the work of S. (vocals and drums) and A. (guitars) on CD with 400 copies of which 40 in digipack format. Because I have one of these luxury 40 copies I can analyze the artwork: minimalist, white and black. The cover shows a woman's body battered by cuts and self-inflicted wounds and doesn't seen the face. There is no logo and on the back there are only written the names of the two songs. In the booklet there is nothing else if don't line up, and there are no texts. From artwork the album promises to be dark and absolutely without glimmers of light. It is clear that the project No Pleasure In Life doesn't want that the image remove the feelings of music, as happens in other cases. But after listening to this demo you can definitely say that the artwork guesses absolutely with music, black as pitch, sick, bearer the plague for the soul. Let's now listen to 'Happiness Is Not An Option'. As previously said is a demo of only two songs but that reaches the twenty-five minutes in duration. 'The Coils Of Depression' is the first track that lasts about eleven minutes. Start with a good clean arpeggio, soon interrupted by distorted guitar riffs. A very Black Metal riffs, accompanied by S. with blast beats and suffered and vomited scream , who succeeds in making the listener to identify his-self with a sick person's life, angry and tired of everyday emotions. It's a fast song and could satisfy also the listeners of the pure Black Metal, if it weren't for the scream as "Nattramn" of the singer who becomes increasingly desperate. The feeling you get from listening to this song is that of mental chaos, the only consciousness is that the life wants to go away. This is for the first part, the second half of 'The Coils Of Depression' becomes more rational, less angry. Where before there was chaos now you can understand the right thing to do when life doesn't give hope and opportunity ... If happiness is not an option, to be precise. The song ends with the two initial riffs coming next to the title track. 'Happiness Is Not An Option' begins with a distorted guitar arpeggio that transmits infinite melancholy. The absence of happiness is tangible and heart-rending scream of S. fit like a glove with the beautiful melodies of A., not articulated but which fail to excite. The blast beats are also present in this song, but this time don't transmit chaos but accentuate A. riffs, they sound different from those of the previous track. Sometimes the drums from the fast rythm isn't used to stay within the Black Metal but just to make the most of the emotions that the project No Pleasure In Life wants to transmit. Towards the second half of the seven minutes you will find, however, clearly inspired purist riffs and parts almost Celtic Frost, which change much humor to the song. The breathable air becomes more rarefied, the anger blinds S. and A. and they realized guitar riffs that are more angry than sad. Depression isn't always made of sadness but also precisely made by moments of rage against the world and against all other human beings. But anyway the Black Metal outbursts are short-lived, a few minutes later 'Happiness Is Not An Option' resumes to be a Depressive Black Metal song, taking the initial melancholy arpeggio. And so, in sadness, ends this track almost a quarter of an hour's duration. To conclude we can say that this 'Happiness Is Not An Option' is an excellent demo, containing two tracks that affect the soul and that makes think about the concept of depression which is not, as many believe, a mental disorder but a set of emotions and feelings. Anger and sadness are two of these feelings and are most pronounced in the music of this U.S. duo. There is also another thing to say: this work was recorded in the summer and the winter of 2009. Summer and Winter, the two stronger seasons. Strong emotions such as S. and A. want to convey to the listener who can't be fascinated, shocked and definitely frustrated (in a positive way) from their music. Recommended for those who listen Depressive Black Metal, and why not, even the purists who want to start to wander a bit 'with the listen. The only flaw: no bass guitar. Lord Sinister E-mail: nostalgiawebzine@gmail.com Translator: Amina Salah Chebel Italian review: https://www.facebook.com/notes/nostalgia-webzine/no-pleasure-in-life-happiness-is-not-an-option/509658392446875

• published: 06 Aug 2013
• views: 59