Psychonaut/Sâver – Emerald – Split (Review)

This is a split between post-metal bands Psychonaut from Belgium and Sâver, (who also feature members of Hymn), from Norway.

Psychonaut start the split with the 16-minute The Great Realisation.

Psychonaut’s music blends progressive and psychedelic post-rock with resplendent post-metal, to produce a song that offers the intricacy of the former and the colour of the latter.

A rhythmic percussive base is utilised well by the band, forming a capable base from which they expand the song’s horizons. The Great Realisation is a journey through textured post-metal, offering soft reflection alongside heavier, riff-friendly moments of instant-appeal.

Throughout the song a variety of moods, paces, and sounds can be heard, made by a range of different influences, styles, and instruments. The band’s songwriting is skilled enough to be able to incorporate these together into a cohesive and engaging whole. Each part of the song has a different character, but one that’s linked to all of the others. Psychonaut clearly know what they are doing with their material, and The Great Realisation is a very enjoyable and satisfying work.

Sâver’s Dimensions Lost, Obscured by Aeons is a 19-minute song of two distinct parts.

The first is driven by soft synths and understated electronics. Sâver craft an eerie soundscape rich in subtle atmosphere. It’s music that builds gradually and with unhurried grace and poise. As the music unfolds, while it’s a fully-formed piece in its own right, you know that it is building to something…

…heavier, which brings us to the second part of the song. Here Sâver unleash their progressive sludge post-metal heaviness. This, despite being a bit of a mouthful, is inadequate to describe their music fully, but it’s a good starting point.

Full of heavy riffs and sharp screaming shouts, the track thunders along in contrast to its peaceful beginning. This is a tempered heaviness though, and it’s not without melody or atmosphere. Clean singing is used well too.

Overall Emerald is an enjoyable split by two quality acts. Check this out.