My review of this Swedish outfits sophomore release “The Gifts” was packed with superlatives about glorious musicianship, beauteous and beguiling sonic craftsmanship set within post rock artistry. Continuing within that style the core duo of Jakob Berglund and Erik Nilsson has constructed yet another elegant album but this time distilling their song writing skills into three expansive tracks that take everything you adored on “The Gifts” and crystallise them into a spellbinding listening experience.
Like their previous album there is an aura of outright melancholy, that enveloping despondency that manifests the moment “Blackout” starts with the sombre piano piece, very similar to how “The Gifts” starts, only it feels sadder. The slow gentle drum beat is funereal like as a low guitar hook is added that is utterly heart-breaking but as quick as it materialises it disperses to leave that morose atmosphere. AWOFTS are masters at creating a sensation of anguish with their guitar subtleties intertwining them with percussive strains and occasional strings as the periodic lulls towards virtual silence leave you holding your breath awaiting the next phase of the track. As the song develops it transforms into a blackened haze with the drum work intensifying and the guitar riffing escalating in density but retaining that ethos of doleful tension, highlighted by the cymbal work.
The title track is up next and after the tense building finale of the opener the opening sequence of this returns to a more serene and solemn tranquillity, possessing a sort of droning backdrop that leads into a haunting clean vocal that has a slight drifting as though being carried on the wind away on the last syllable. The song is desolately played, made more so by the vocals that have a chilling and unsettling vibe as the song sharply introduces a metal component to great effect, being dramatic and offering a doomy landscape to the music. The song languishes into a trough of melancholy as a grief stricken guitar hook is played that leads into another oblique change in riff and beat which works in generating a multifaceted song that has chameleon like attributes. Yet even though the pace has increased here the gloominess is still tangible as a lowly guitar riff can be heard interlacing into the melody of the track and it is these intricacies that make this band’s music so engrossing especially when the track escalates in power and emotion towards its climactic end.
Ending the album is “An Heir To The Throne” and like the other two compositions, it begins with an ominous and eerie melody linked to a pagan like drum pattern that is nestled lightly within the mix. The vocals have a tone similar to Aðalbjörn Tryggvason (Sólstafir) having a tearful tone as the song eventually twists into a contorted post metal agonised beast, revealing exquisite guitar work that permeates the track with passionate hooks. As the song unfurls it produces a staggering isolated guitar piece that is breath-taking, possessing reams of emotion as it takes the song into a power escalation that is just brilliant and completely enshrouds the listener in guitar work. It really is just fabulous.
(9/10 Martin Harris)
https://aswarmofthesun.bandcamp.com
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