पुनर्जन्म भाग १ by गौतम बुद्ध

Within the Buddhist worldview, suffering, dukkha, is inescapable. Birth is suffering, aging is suffering, illness is suffering, and death is suffering. This concept of the First Noble Truth is encapsulated in पुनर्जन्म भाग १ (Rebirth Part 2), the newest album from गौतम बुद्ध (Gautam Buddha). Hailing from Kushinagar, India–a pilgrimage site where the Buddha shuffled off his mortal coil–this heavy act finds common ground between Buddhism and Black Metal. 

It may sound like a strange crossover at first, but with a dynamic blend of blackgaze and Indian classical music, this international release explores the darker side of the Dharma. Like the severe strike of the keisaku, this record is a wake-up call to listeners who only perceive Buddhism through a watered-down Western lens. Thematically, each of the four tracks on this album explore four karmic triggers for reincarnation into Samsara: dying from torture, to be paid revenge, dying prematurely, and to complete the incomplete Sadhana. 

With raw lo-fi instrumentals, guttural growls, and punishing double-bass percussion, this extreme metal release sounds like it could have been recorded in early 90's Norway instead of Northern India. But balanced with spacey sitar-driven interludes, this must-listen record transcends typical expectations for atmospheric black metal. 

- Kalen