This is the fourth album from polish post-black metallers Entropia.
Entropia are such a good band. I have thoroughly enjoyed their development through the years, (make sure you check out Vesper, Ufonaut, and Vacuum), and now on their latest release they demonstrate once again why they are just so damned good.
At this point in their existence, Entropia are not just one single thing. In their multifaceted sound you will find black, sludge, psychedelic, progressive, experimental, avant-garde, and post-metal elements, all wound tightly together into music that resonates with the secret parts of creation.
Total is the next evolution of Entropia’s sound. Across 50 minutes of new material the band expand the horizons of their dark psychedelic extreme metal even further. Like all of their work, Total has a distinct identity of its own, and it is a colossal construct of blackened post-metal that’s steeped in progressive psychedelia and mood-rich depth. Total combines together aspects of all of the other Entropia albums, while also treading its own path of individuality. It’s complex and intricate, with a powerful textured approach that’s rich and impactful. Entropia create music that’s a kaleidoscopic journey into a realm where the familiar is twisted into the novel.
There’s a density here that’s both imposing and welcoming. A careful and well-executed balance exists on Total between impenetrability and accessibility. It’s weighted towards the former, yet somehow feels more like the latter, which is quite an achievement.
Melody is used by Entropia in interesting and engaging ways. It’s frequently snapped into pieces, broken down into sharp shards, and then reformed into something exceptional. Occasionally though, at key moments, a melody breaks free of the chopping board and arises fully formed and dripping with emotion. At these points it contrasts well with the more jagged and atypical moments.
Total is adventurous, ambitious, exciting, transcendent, and accomplished. Entropia have reinvented themselves once more, and the results are as impressive as they are enjoyable.
Essential listening for fans of idiosyncratic and individual extreme metal.
Wonderbox Metal 