This is the third album from Canadian post-metallers Sarin.
Here we have 33 minutes of post-metal that’s influenced by the likes of Isis, Neurosis, and Cult of Luna. Sarin’s music concentrates mainly on the heavier, crushing side of these bands, although there is texture here too. Sarin use the heavy/light build/release mechanics of the style well, taking the well-worn tools and ideas of their predecessors and putting them to good use in refashioning the sludgy post-metal sound for their own ends.
The songs are well-written and sound as if they have been carefully crafted by a band that have a strong vision for their music. Although you can hear where Sarin’s influences lie, particularly that of Isis, the band have their own take on what post-metal should be. As such, the songs emphasise the heavier, more aggressive side of the subgenre, even going as far as to include real moments of speed and blast beats in places.
Amidst the weighty soundscapes that the band unleash is a balance between instant impact and emotive atmosphere. One side might be deployed as a wall of sludgy guitars or thick, meaty riffs, while the other might manifest as a section of contemplative calm or a layered expression of mood-creation. Alongside the colossal waves of distortion and the bursts of fury live these lighter, ambient, introspective moments, designed to not only add to the band’s musical variety, but also to make the heavier parts sound even heavier by comparison.
There are vocals, but they’re not the band’s primary focus. Some tracks are entirely instrumental, while others are almost-entirely without them – after nearly eight minutes with no singing, When You Melt‘s final vocal assault was a surprising as it was well-placed.
You Can’t Go Back is an album with a lot of personality and character for post-metal, and packs in a lot of content for such a short running time. I really enjoyed this, and urge you to check out what Sarin are doing with heavy music.
