Whitechapel's, The Valley, Is "Influencial and Groundbreaking"
White Chapel
Aggressive, angry, ground-breaking, monstrous, influential. All buzzwords used to describe the most modern prominent Metal releases. Now that the essentials are out of the way, let me speak freely about Whitechapel’s seventh official Studio Album The Valley.
Deathcore fans, Metal kids, and even “spectators” of the heavier genres have been curious and fascinated with this new release from Tennessee's OG Deathcore act since November 1st, 2018. With ‘Brimstone’, It was very obvious Whitechapel was going to release something truly special with their upcoming release, The Valley. The following months would bring four more singles that exaggerate the already established anticipation. Whitechapel’s slow, yet consistent reveal of the album’s tone made The Valley into an enigma; none of the tracks previously released were comparable to one another. The lyrical subject matter was seldom discussed, and the world could only hope that Whitechapel would sound as brutal as before.
After a few good thorough listens, I can happily state that The Valley is a true pleasure to listen through.
The best one-word description is easily “Atmospheric”. There’s a heavy use of tonal shifts throughout it that serve their purpose in such an effective way that seasoned songwriters could only hope to achieve. The transitions from harsh groove to Tool-esque ambience and right back again are so fluent, yet perfectly unpredictable. As I predicted with my previous article [See WHITECHAPEL 2019: WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?] the forefathers of Deathcore have produced an anthology of darkness and despair. It definitely delivers on every conceivable level while working in a league all their own.
White Chapel ‘The Valley’ album cover art
Musically, the best example of the album’s range is in it’s opening track ‘When a Demon Defiles a Witch’. The unmistakable essence of traditional brutality, almost flawless craftsmanship, a truly haunting use of clean vocals (especially in the repeating chorus, it's been stuck in my head for days), and Whitechapel’s unparalleled riffage will make even the elitist-est of Metal stroke their goatees in intrigue. The following nine tracks are just as heavy, just as (if not more) deep, and every track is as individually unique as the overall flow. It’s ridiculously heavy, helplessly groovy, hauntingly beautiful, and uniquely Whitechapel.
The harsh and clean vocals are done masterfully. The second track “Forgiveness Is Weakness”, marks the progression of Phil’s high-range screams, and has been exemplified in multiple tracks (most notably When a Demon Defiles a Witch and Hickory Creek). Clean vocals are no longer an unwelcome gimmick, but rather a pivotal addition to Whitechapel’s new personality. The Valley sounds like it’s exactly what it needs to be. With more listens, it’s obvious there is nothing short of passion throughout.
It’s no secret and no leap of the imagination that this album is deeply personal. We as listeners are experiencing true pain and unadulterated passion with this album. We should be so lucky to have such a nice soundtrack to the psyche of a tortured man and an even more tortured past.
The Valley is personal, passionate, heavy, and… unlike anything I’ve ever heard. I’m impressed, I’m depressed, and I’m dripping in finesse. The more I hear the tracks, the more I find myself enjoying the outlandish groove/ambiance/driving brutality and empathizing with the thematic narrative. It’s like watching a great piece of cinema that you only have to listen to. Occasionally it can feel repetitive, and with the more experimental ambient moments, even boring. But these gripes are insignificant compared to the overall experience. Even the weaker tracks (in my PERSONAL opinion) such as “We Are One” supply something along the lines of an early 2000’s breakdown followed by some sweet vocal brutality. The Valley lives up to its own hype, as well as sets a standard for progressive/melodic metal.