Dead as Dreams

The most important album in USBM

A murder of crows atop a pile of human skulls in the middle of a desolate desert landscape. An apocalyptic scene indeed. That is what you see when you open this album. Physically and metaphorically. Physically it's the artwork inside the cover, metaphorically it's how you feel listening to these songs. Five densely layered soundscapes of crushing black metal awesomeness!
Weakling formed in the late nineties when USBM was still much maligned around the world. Unfairly so in my opinion. We didn't have Mayhem, Darkthrone, Rotting Christ, or Dissection but the underground sound of Judas Iscariot, Grand Belial's Key, Absu, and Inquisition were enough to put the US on the BM map. And yes Inquisition is a US band. Weakling were a part of the California scene along with Ludicra, Leviathan, Crebain, and Xasthur. The bay area being home to many. It was in this scene they developed a sound that at the time was unique and unmatched. Their influence can't be overstated. Most bands kept the proven formula of short songs and simple production. Most bands weren't Weakling.
Dead As Dreams clocks in at an hour and sixteen minutes. The shortest song being opener Cut Their Grain and Place Fire Therein which is ten and a half minutes. But as soon as it starts the song grabs you by the throat and doesn't let up. Next song, the title track Dead As Dreams is over twenty minutes. It starts slower with building atmosphere allowing the listener to catch their breath and then takes you into a world of darkness with it's dense guitars and incredible drum work. Even at twenty minutes it never lags. This Entire Fucking Battlefield just crushes from start to finish. With keyboards used to excellent affect. No One Can Be Called As A Man While He'll Die is the most doom laden track here. The Asunder influence is obvious but still manages to sound uniquely theirs thanks to the excellent bass work of Sara Weiner. Closing out with Desasters In The Sun a more mellow funeral doom track which perfectly captures the intensity and mood of the rest of the album. A truly fantastic song.
It's hard to believe this album is over twenty years old now given it's influence can still be heard in new USBM band like False, Ceremonial Castings, Panopticon, and Falls Of Rauros. Dead As Dreams really needs to be heard repeatedly. Unfortunately this album is hard to find and quite expensive if you can. I hope the members of Weakling seriously consider a re-issue. Until then try and find it.