Third Island – Dusk (Review)

This is the debut EP from Irish post-metal/doom band Third Island.

Building atmosphere with steady grace and gentle insistence, Third Island take a subtle, almost-sensual approach to their post-metal explorations. That’s not to say that they don’t know how to ramp up the distortion when they need to, it’s just that the distortion is only there as an emphasis in the delicate soundscapes that the band create.

The band take their time with the post-metal build-release mechanics, drawing out the standard templates and lovingly crafting them to their own needs. This results in a collection of music that takes influence from the lighter side of the style, alongside the occasional harsher tone here and there.

The vocals follow suit with this too; in a sub-genre that’s dominated by either shouting or no vocals at all, Third Island employ soft clean vocals alongside the more typical shouts that appear in the heavier sections.

When the music does get heavier and the shouting does appear, it’s usually a case that the band have so effortlessly built up to it so that even these parts have a quasi-dreamy, almost relaxed aspect to them that’s quite insidious.

Dusk is laid-back, unhurried and with a confidence born of attention to detail and a firm grasp of the material and the background style.

Third Island have created something quite enjoyable here. Although not without its minor flaws, this is a very satisfying take on the post-metal style, building atmosphere and mood with a slow-burning approach that the band have made their own with great aplomb.

For fans of Isis, Pelican, Neurosis, Jesu and Red Sparowes.