The Parting by Taliándörögd: A Raw, Unfiltered Punch to the Gut
If you're into music that feels like it crawled out of some dark cave where Death Metal and Stoner Rock had an unholy love child, then The Parting is your jam. Released in 2004 by the French band Taliándörögd (try saying that five times fast), this album hits hard but also takes its time dragging you through layers of grit and groove. It’s not perfect—there are moments when it feels a little too raw—but damn if it doesn’t leave a mark.
Let’s talk about two tracks I can’t shake off: “Onto Open Void” and “Vertigo.”
“Onto Open Void” opens with this slow-burn riff that just oozes doom. Like, imagine standing at the edge of a cliff while someone whispers creepy stuff into your ear—that’s what this track feels like. Simon Beux’s vocals are guttural yet oddly hypnotic, like he’s channeling something ancient and pissed-off. And then there’s Dirk Verbeuren on drums—he doesn’t just play; he attacks. By the time the song builds up to its chaotic peak, you’re either headbanging or questioning all your life choices. Either way, mission accomplished.
Then there’s “Vertigo,” which flips the vibe completely. This one starts with these trippy keyboard tones from Nicolas Lopin, giving it almost a psychedelic edge before Florent Beux’s guitars kick in and rip everything apart. There’s this weird tension between the stoner-rock grooves and the death-metal aggression—it shouldn’t work, but somehow it does. Every note feels deliberate, like they knew exactly how far they could push you before you snap. Spoiler alert: You will snap.
What really sticks with me isn’t just the music itself—it’s the people behind it. These guys didn’t phone it in. Anthony Lopin’s basslines rumble like distant thunder, and Stephan May’s mixing gives everything this dirty, lived-in texture that fits perfectly. Even the acoustic bits sprinkled throughout feel intentional, like little breathers before the next sonic assault.
But here’s the thing—I don’t know why more people aren’t talking about this album. Maybe it’s because the name Taliándörögd looks like a typo waiting to happen. Or maybe it’s because AL4AS, their label, wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire back then. Whatever the reason, The Parting deserves better. It’s messy, sure, but so is life. Sometimes the best things come wrapped in chaos.
So yeah, give this one a spin if you’re tired of polished crap that sounds like every other playlist filler. Just make sure you’ve got headphones on—and maybe a stiff drink nearby. Oh, and if anyone asks? Tell them you heard it first from me. Not that I care… or anything.
