This is the second album from Third Island, an Irish post-metal band.

Dusk and Omelas showed a band developing and growing into their style well, and Unspeakable is the latest chapter in their continued journey.

This record takes a more refined and concise approach to its material than much of the band’s previous work, but still manages to offer a textured, multifaceted listen. There’s an increased amount of melody on display that accompanies the core heaviness, and the songs are largely more immediate affairs. A larger sludge influence can be heard on occasion, beefing up the more aggressive moments. There’s some traditional doom here too, at least on occasion in some of the melodies.

Mournful, despondent moods and crawling, sorrowful atmospheres suitably portray the HP Lovecraft-inspired themes, while the songs unfold with a mixture of emotive heaviness and crushing riffs. The band manage to balance an instant-appeal delivery, with deeper melodic and emotive weight, while dual vocals, (clean and harsh – performed by two singers), war overhead.

Unspeakable is a good step forward for Third Island, and I look forward to their onward march continuing.