Darkness and despair are a breeding ground for creativity in the right hands. Since their inception in 2017, Atlanta-based band Alluvial have embraced the grim and gloom that the world has to offer through an intricately balanced blend of rapid-fire polyrhythms, haunting, sludgy atmospheres and tightly wound grooves.

The band – consisting of Kevin Muller [vocals], Wes Hauch [guitar, vocals], Tim Walker [bass], and Zach Dean [drums] – take a stab at creating an even more sinister sound than their previous album, Sarcoma, with their upcoming EP, Death Is But a Door [Nuclear Blast].

After releasing their instrumental debut full-length, The Deep Longing for Annihilation, the band hit the road. Although the album has racked up millions of streams, there was always an intent to add a vocalist to their following releases. Hauch had begun writing what would become Sarcoma in 2018 and recruited Muller, knowing his vocal prowess from the vocalist’s time in Suffocation.

Bringing Muller into the fold immediately elevated the band’s sound, but Death Is But a Door shows the synergy that the band has developed from working as a cohesive unit over the last few years.

Although the band’s mission is to drive into bleaker and heavier territory with each new release, they manage to bring balance to their sound. While they remain grounded in death metal, the band's approach finds them exploring all of their influences. From traditional thrash like Pantera or Metallica to darker grunge like Alice in Chains or Soundgarden and everything in between, Alluvial aims to keep listeners on their toes by pushing beyond the realms of death metal.

By exploring musical facets beyond the gritty brutality and technical dexterity that Alluvial puts on full display, they’ve opened a world of options for them to explore. The band has crafted a unique experience by melding their influences into a one-of-a-kind sound.