Released in 2018 via Flenser, Ragana’s Unbecoming is a dark, intense, and emotionally charged album that solidifies the band’s reputation for blending black metal, sludge, and experimental textures. The record showcases a balance of ferocity, atmosphere, and haunting melody, resulting in a deeply immersive listening experience.
The album opens with Feral, immediately plunging the listener into raw, tremolo-picked riffs, crushing drum patterns, and anguished vocals. Throughout Unbecoming, tracks such as Reclaim and Unearth demonstrate Ragana’s skill at dynamic tension, alternating between aggressive, high-intensity passages and slower, oppressive sludge-driven moments that evoke despair and introspection.
Instrumentation is both heavy and nuanced. Guitars range from jagged, sharp riffs to droning textures that create a suffocating atmosphere. Bass and drums anchor the compositions with precision, while the vocals convey both rage and vulnerability, heightening the album’s emotional depth.
Production is raw yet clear, preserving the brutal power of the heavier sections while allowing the subtler atmospheric moments to breathe. The pacing encourages immersion, with each track unfolding deliberately to maximize tension and release.
Unbecoming is not a casual listen; it demands focus and engagement, rewarding listeners with a journey through darkness, intensity, and haunting beauty.
Ultimately, Unbecoming stands as one of Ragana’s most powerful and affecting works, an album that fuses brutality, atmosphere, and emotional resonance into a cohesive and unforgettable experience.
