Ba’al – The Fine Line Between Heaven and Here
Release Date: 18th July 2025
Label: Road To Masochist
Bandcamp
Genre: Post-Black Metal, Atmospheric Black Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge.
FFO: Deafheaven, Amenra, MØL, Harikiri for the Sky, Cult of Luna, Inter Arma.
Review By: Rick Farley
Blending the weightiness of doom filled sludginess, the ferocity of black metal and melancholic, atmospheric soundscapes, Sheffield England’s post-black, dread weavers Ba’al return for album number two, The Fine Line Between Heaven and Here set for release July 18th, 2025, via Road To Masochist.
Formed in 2016, Ba’al quickly became a cornerstone of Sheffield’s heavy/extreme music scene. The genre-blurring four piece have since won the Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses competition, released two EPs, as well as the release of their debut album in 2020, Ellipsism.
Ba’al utilizes the atmospheric beauty and dreadful heaviness of post and doomy elements, within a context of an aggressive black metal framework that forms a dynamic, emotionally charged look into the eyes of the abyss which glares wickedly back outward with its captivating, haunted journey filled songwriting. The extra elements of synths, ambience, noise, tinges of gothic toned clean vocals and murkiness complete this album into being something experienced rather than just heard. The doom, which occasionally borders sludgy death metal, is walls of crushing riffs, swampy hooks, and low demon like growls that will shake your innards. The black metal is ferocious, screechy bile that feels caustic to the point that it could sear right through your flesh. It’s dripping with vitriol. The albums dread filled atmosphere feels huge and at times crashes down onto you, while at others it’s floating airiness soothes with a calming smokiness and entrances enough to stop you dead in your tracks and just stare into nothingness. The Fine Line Between Heaven and Here is a progressive record in the sense that it does not rely on any one genre to get its point across. The incorporation of complex structures and exploration over the course of the record feels authentic while maintaining its aggressive fluidity. This is a disgustingly heavy record, not only in its wretched manners, but also the emotional depth it contains deep under the surface. This will bring out some intensity in your thoughts and feelings, whether you want it to or not. An automatic strength of any album, which makes you feel more than just its surface intensity.
Honestly, I see no need for me to break down any particular songs, being that there are only six. The records runtime is a whopping 62 minutes, it personally doesn’t feel that long to me, but I can see where this could be a deterrent for some, however if you stick it out, the payoff is remarkable. Tracks like opener Mother’s Concrete Womb and album closer Legasov alone are worth the price of admission, with the first being an absolute stunner of beauty and pure ugliness wrapped into one, each battling for possession. While the closer brings out its fierceness before alluring you with beguile, only to stomp your bones into dust as soon as you succumb.
The Fine Line Between Heaven and Here was produced, engineered, and mixed by Joe Clayton (Dawnwalker, Conjurer, Ithaca) at No Studio. Mastering was done by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege. So, it really doesn’t take much thought to already know this sounds fucking great. Intensely raw, but warm and clear. It’s dense but has a sharpness that’s not hard on the ears yet still sounds gut-wrenching and gnarly. This is top level production.
This should not be written off as just another shoegaze, post-black metal record, there is something inherently special about this band and the way they present their moody darkness to us. Ba’al could very easily be considered a sludge filled doom/death band with tons of post black metal influence so it shouldn’t be just boxed into one arena. This is a heavy fucking record full of killer riffs and savagery that deeply augments its own self-reflection and despair. Sincerely, give this a spin and thank me later.
(5 / 5)
