Post-Metal – Page 61 – Wonderbox Metal

Interpreter – Introspection (Review)

So what do we have here then? Some sort of Black Metal/Post-Metal/Sludge album? Actually it’s kind of hard to say. Elements of all said genres, and more, make up this impressive album.

Too fast to be merely Doom; too metal to be merely sludge; too aggressive to be merely Post-Metal; too encompassing of other genres to be merely Black Metal…I could go on. Suffice to say that for all its variety it still retains a cohesive identity that marks it out as a Metal album, so as far as genre goes maybe that’s enough.

Almost every track brings new surprises – a different style of vocals here; a change of pace and style there – but it all flows together into a seamless whole that delivers a very complete, very diverse and weighty collection of songs. The vocal styles range from throaty shouts and growls to Black Metal shrieking; it’s all here. Interpreter were previously unknown to me and as such I did not expect this release to be of such outstanding quality. But it is. Oh yes.

Fusing the best of the Sludge, Post-Metal, Doom, Black Metal, (etc.) genres into a seamless whole, Interpreter are like the proverbial breath of fresh air. A top quality recording job rounds this release off nicely and i can only add to this review by heartily recommending you get this as soon as you can.

Not for the average.

Caves of Glass – Caves of Glass (Review)

Ever wonder what would happen if a band like Vinterriket stopped playing their brand of atmospheric ambient Black Metal and instead started playing atmospheric ambient Post-Metal instead? Of course you have. Well wonder no more! The result would probably sound much akin to Caves of Glass. This is my initial impression at any rate and it serves as a useful starting point for their sound.

From fuzzed up heavy riffing, to classical instrumentation, this is a varied and complete journey into feeling and effect. Heavy guitars meet Moby-style effects and ambience to chilling effect; all wrapped up in the type of recording normally reserved for Black Metal; good but grimey. This is beautiful music not afraid to get mired in the sludge. The vocals as well cover all points – clean, growled, Vinterriket-style almost-too-high-to-hear-screeching…very impressive.

This is a collaboration between members of about 6 different groups, so that would presumably account for the variety on offer here, as well as just how well everything fits together. All members obviously know what they are doing and must work well together as the songwriting and grasp of dynamics on display certainly equal the best of the Post-Metal bands around today. Some of the parts of this album are just hair-raising. They are seriously that good.

This is a band that takes you on a journey through darkness and light, aggression and peace. An album for people who enjoy the distance travelled as well as the final destination. An album that grows and gets better with repeated listens. An album that has a lot to offer open minds and adventurers in sound.

I came across this band essentially by accident – it was recommended to me via Twitter. Now I’m recommending it in turn. You won’t be disappointed.

Favourite track: Barren Earth

Barbelith – Barbelith (Review)

Barbelith are a depressive Black Metal band from the US who also have just a touch of post-metal to their sound. The music is deliberately emotional and atmospheric and evokes feelings of darkness and mournfulness in the listener.

At 25 minutes in length this is a short EP containing just 5 tracks; an Intro, Outro and 3 songs proper. As such it can be considered a taster release for what will (hopefully) be an upcoming full-length album.

Each of the three main songs concentrates on a atmospheric journey into bleakness and mourning that works well and sits comfortably with the current slew of bands combining elements of Black Metal and post-metal, although I would say that Barbelith consist mainly of the Black Metal side of the two.

A release that best works its bleak magic over time – I suggest you give it the time to breathe that it deserves.

Rosetta – The Anaesthete (Review)

I’m a big fan of this so-called post-rock/post-metal genre. There seems to be no end of talented bands with great ideas out there. Rosetta are one such band. They have existed for quite long (relatively speaking) but have never quite reached the same level of recognition as their peers, (Isis, Cult of Luna, Neurosis, etc.), despite being of equal pedigree.

I have enjoyed all of Rosetta’s albums over the years but I have to say this is a strong contender for their best. Compared to a lot of ‘normal’ bands the songs may still seem quite long, but for this genre they are a bit shorter than normal – indeed on this album Rosetta appear to be tighter and more concise than in the past, much to their benefit.

The sound on this album is perfect; everything sounds crisp, clear and the drums hit like earthquakes. Nothing sounds sterile or dry though, and the sound is the absolute right one for the album to come across like a living, breathing force of nature. The songs are full of feeling and atmosphere, with plenty of great melodies and ideas.

If you haven’t heard Rosetta before then you should get this album. If you have heard them before then why haven’t you already got this album?

Entropia – Vesper (Review)

Entropia play Blackened Dark Progressive Post-Metal, which is a bit of a mouthful really but gives a general idea of what they sound like. Each of the (fairly long) songs are well composed and obviously a lot of thought has gone into them.

This is a really enjoyable album as it takes you on a journey through a blackened landscape full of surprises and unexpected turns. At its heart is a fiery Black Metal album, but one that has mutated out of the original genre confines into a space of its own to become lord of its post-metal landscape.

All the more impressive is the fact that this is Entropia’s first full album – maturity and intelligence of songwriting such as is on display here is rarely displayed so early in the existence of a band.

This is an album that has both heavy and light; the soft and the hard; atmosphere and bite. If you are looking for interesting and adventurous Black Metal then I highly recommend this album .

Cut the End – Dawn’s Death to Dusk

After their good-but-rather-average 2008 release The Beauty is Inside, Cut the End returned in 2011 with something very special indeed.

Death Metal gone post-rock. Post-Death Metal? Cut the End could very well be to Death Metal what Enslaved are to Black Metal. Here we have some epic length songs that rely on solid writing and delivery to entrance the listener in each and every turn.

Imagine a band like Cult of Luna if instead of a hardcore/post-rock background they had a Death Metal one with some nice thrash-y riffs sprinkled liberally around. The songs grow and grow, twist and turn, in the pleasing manner of old-school thrash epics such as The Call of Ktulu, etc. High praise I’m sure you’ll agree, but this band are something a bit different and more than live up to it.

If you are a bit tired of Death metal and are looking for something a bit more, yet still within the Death Metal genre then this is the band for you. Or maybe you like your post-rock and shoegaze, but wish is had a bit more bite? This is the band for you.

Have a listen and I’m sure you’ll be hooked.

https://myspace.com/cuttheend