This is the world of dark soundcapes, apocalyptic guitars and epic synth sounds, they tell us. It all points to collapse on this, the band’s 8th album release.
“Ark of Horizon” is post rock with electronica. The album as a whole is very much in the sphere of a soundtrack with a screen at the back of the stage either fluttering at rapid fire pace between images or more probably flying across deserted landscapes. “Red Rain” continues in a similar vein. The music is indeed epic and dynamic. The strong keyboard sounds are dark and, I suppose, gothic. There’s even a bit of new wave about it but the sound is forceful and rich as it continues its journey. “Resistance” starts with an electronic warning as if someone pressed that alarm. The darkwave expanse develops with electronic waves and overlapping sounds. The soaring tone reminds me very much of the album “Panopticon” by the now defunct US band Isis. “Resistance” builds up to an epic climax, and actually would have made a good closing track. But there are another four to go.
The instrumental party continues with the expansive post rock ring of “Destruction”. With a title like this, I might have expected sadness and devastation, and there is a melancholic element, but the soundtrack style put me, in my imagination at least, up there in the clouds looking around me. I actually felt uplifted. Not really the representation of “coronavirus, environmental destruction, the greed of mankind, injustice, exploitation, poverty, war and resistance” platform that was advertised, but this was electronic epic heaviness at its most listenable, and maybe it’s about interpretation. The title track which follows has more melancholy and even dreaminess but as ever it packs a punch, raising the power level while never losing the ringing underscore. “A New Beginning” drifts along in its sophisticated post rock way and reaches its climax before “Another Earth” closes proceedings with a final spine-tingling epic journey through the sky.
“Everything We Will Leave Beyond Us” parades 8 power packed, evocative and epic soundscapes. Of the instrumental albums I have listened to this year, this is undoubtedly one of the best.
(8.5/10 Andrew Doherty)
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