Hummus records has provided me with some brilliant experiences over the last year or so and also most if not all of their releases are available for free but luckily I got the CD edition for this Swiss acts debut that is a highly charged yet potently emotive post-hardcore sonic annihilation. Opening with the doleful and sombre intro of “Sending A Message” it listens like a funeral dirge only for guitar distortion to muscle its way in ready for the post funeral wake as the tune flows neatly into “From The Edge of The Universe” where post metal riffing is coupled to venomous vocal tirades. The melodic guitar insertions are deftly played and linked with clean vocals that sound tormented to the point of heartbreak. At seven minutes the tune unfolds to reveal wings of anguish layered with textural serenity and melancholia.
“For Seven Days” is ten minutes of auditory escapism taking in the likes of The Ocean due to the harsh vocal style but also Cult Of Luna due to beautifying instrument arrangements that add layer upon layer of exquisite accentuation. I did like the clean vocal additions as they enhance the songs tenfold and coupled to the percussive fills and accented cymbal work it creates that proverbial icing on the cake where each nuance is essential to the song. A gradual fade in for “Beyond The Five Horizons” works perfectly as the song has an almost schizoid sleazy beat to it but with screamed vocals and a melody I found very easy on the ear. Again the duration allows the song to breathe freely and overflow its borders with a myriad of ideas that continues with “Between The Skies” which has a slow drum beat start before the guitar permeates through with gentle flicks. The increase in the guitar intensifies the emotion of the song exquisitely before the vocals are allowed to unleash their scathing power before morphing to the clean variety once again. Here those clean vocals are sorrowful, grief ridden and even a little tormented in their tone as the sauntering melancholia cements the whole thing together with tearful adhesion.
Closing this splendid release is “Ozymandias” which follows a short interlude that blends with it seamlessly. The guitar strum is steeped in sadness with a bleak passionless atmosphere before the vocal like whispering comes through and even as the clean voice develops into a scornful outburst the emotion is intact. Affluent in creativity the song delves headlong into a soothing riff and melody and softly played drums and it is this attention to detail that makes this release such a wondrous listen from start to finish.
(8.5/10 Martin Harris)
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