I had previously reviewed The Deep Bleed’s “Machines that Search For God” (also on Inner Demons) and enjoyed it, so I was interested to see what this installment would bring. The Deep Bleed is the work of one Mark Hjorthoy, who hails from Vancouver, British Columbia. Hjorthoy describes this composition thus: “‘Escaping The Seventh Circle’ is a journey through mental illness. Everyone is fighting their own battle, and I want you to know that I care about yours. This release represents my personal fight, and I hope it helps you fight. I’m proud of you. Keep fighting.” Sounds interesting, so let’s dive in and join Hjorthoy on this journey.

This disc consists on one track, “Escape the Seventh Circle.” If there is one word to describe this composition, it is subtlety. There is a lot going on in this track that belies the calm, peaceful drone on the surface. Hidden within the track are bits of static, scraping, snippets of voice, and other noises as the piece slowly evolves. There is a kind of tension here that keeps the listener engaged. As the track progresses, the noises become more pronounced and insistent until it slowly fades out.

In short, this is solid drone work that is carefully crafted together. Well worth picking up. This album weighs in at around 20 minutes and is limited to 42 copies.