ZELFHAAT Project: Uitzichtloosheid CD

The 2023 album Project: Uitzichtloosheid by the Dutch project Zelfhaat, released as a professional CD digipak by Dying Sun Records, is a harrowing and immersive exploration of Depressive Suicidal Black Metal (DSBM). Translated as Project: Hopelessness, the record is the second full-length effort from the solo project of the musician Mortifer, who handles nearly all instrumentation and vocals. Over the course of more than 40 minutes, the album delivers a sonic manifestation of its title, utilizing Dutch lyrics to delve into themes of self-destruction, absolute despair, and the crushing weight of existence. The record is meticulously paced, shifting between high-speed tremolo assaults and slow, agonizing passages that emphasize a mournful atmosphere. The tracklist begins with the haunting introduction Project: Uitzichtloosheid, followed by the expansive and grimly titled Liefkozingen van de strop (Caresses of the Noose) and Pelgrimage naar de tempel van zelfhaat (Pilgrimage to the Temple of Self-Hatred). The middle of the album features the somber Scheermesserenade in A mineur and the lengthy Treurmanifestatie verbonden in droevenis, leading into the final descent with Voorbij de tranen, Opus Melancholica, and the definitive closure of Een laatste treurspel (A Last Tragedy). Released in a limited digipak format, this album has been recognized for its raw, emotional honesty and its ability to create a suffocatingly bleak environment, solidifying Zelfhaat’s place as a premier name in the modern Dutch black metal underground for those who seek the most extreme expressions of melancholy.