The Third Eye

Hot off the heels of their split with AAWKS, Aiwass is back with a new five-track album called The Falling. This record will be released via King Volume Records on October 13, 2023.

About The Falling

Aiwass is the project of solo musician Blake Carrera. With The Falling, he decided to switch things up, saying that …

“When I started The Falling, I felt like doom was getting played out. I didn’t want to be another copycat; I wanted to be me. As a result, this album is more exploratory and experimental.”

To prove that he means what he says, he breaks further away from the psychedelic format and employs influences from classical music, country, and black metal, as well as many others. 

This type of box-breaking is precisely what I need to hear; I enjoy the doom genre as much as any of you, but I have to agree with Blake’s take on it. There’s an over-saturation of bands that all sound similar to each other and use the same tired cliches when picking their band’s moniker. As a result, I find myself looking for the outliers who want to push the boundaries of the genre and not become stagnant “copycats.”

The Songs

1. Prometheus (08:37)

Aiwass begins by supplying us with sounds perfect for the Halloween season due to a slightly haunting/exorcism movie soundtrack style. When the guitar enters, it only adds to the ethereal feel, continuing even as the riff becomes quicker. Then things go into a psychedelic territory while remaining haunting, and the result is fantastic!

The vocals give me a Wardruna vibe without the Norse mythology and old-school instrumentation. The track is diverse, mellow, calming, and incredible from beginning to end.

2. Gnosis (09:47)

“Gnosis” is the longest song on The Falling, but every second is used to its fullest potential. The intro is quite laid back, but then the ultra fuzzy guitar riff kicks, creating a dynamic shift that brings up the intensity before settling back into a chill feel for the verse … all within the first two and a half minutes. Aiwass is adept at using diverse styles and dynamics to pull listeners in, and I believe this track will deeply place its hooks in you.

3. The Light Of Evil (07:45)

I hear Led Zeppelin vibes during the intro, thanks to the effects used on the clean guitar. What I like best is that Aiwass sounds heavy without being heavy in the sense that most of us think of when we have that descriptive word used in music. It’s all about the music’s feel and atmosphere,  though there are sections where heavy psych is the perfect way to describe them. 

4. Be Not A Man (07:22)

This intro is the best on the record, with its heavy psych style and ’70s vibe. That ’70s feel doesn’t go away, though this most definitely fits into the modern sound of the genre. I also hear influences from the doom genre and a bit of Pink Floyd, which helps to give this song its own identity compared to the other songs on the album. I love the tone when the song uses the fuzzier guitars; it retains all the great aspects of the track while adding something fresh. If I were to pick a favorite track, it would be this one. 

5. Crossing The Veil (07:15)

I get more Led Zeppelin vibes as the song gets going; there are even influences from the mellow aspects of Down and Crowbar to be heard. The track is pretty chill until the six-minute mark, when the guitars get distorted, and a lead break occurs. Of the five songs, this is my least favorite, but don’t take that as being bad, as you may have a different experience with it. 

Final Thoughts

After spending some time with this album, I assure you this is an excellent effort from Aiwass. “Be Not A Man” and “Prometheus” are perfect examples of what Aiwass is so good at, but there isn’t a bad track to be heard on The Falling. 

So head to Bandcamp, get your pre-order on, and prepare for another stellar album from Aiwass!

Support Aiwass by finding him on Bandcamp or social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube).

Support King Volume Records by finding them on Bandcamp or social media (Instagram, Facebook).

This review was written by Tom Hanno, who has been writing reviews for the last 7 years but has been sharing his love of music for the majority of his life. Originally starting out at the now-defunct Chimera Magazine, he is currently contributing to Doomed and Stoned, The Sleeping Shaman, The Doom Charts, Tom’s Reviews, and The Third Eye. Read more of Tom’s reviews by checking out his Linktree.

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