The Harvest Moon is one of those single person black metal projects, where the subject is the anxiety of living in a complex civilisation. The individual behind this EP upped sticks in 2018 to experience off grid living in Western Australia so credit to the guy for not doing a Prince Harry and preaching stuff from a distant lifestyle.

Where else to start then but “No Utopia”? This isn’t your frostbitten black metal, which would hardly go with WA in any case. The tune is surprisingly mellow. That’s not to say it’s not powerful because it is thanks to the reverberating post-metal ring. It’s emotive but our recluse sounds angst-ridden, and from this comes the fire. “The Fool Searches Till Death” has gloom at its centre and is more quiet and reflective than “No Utopia”, save the anguished cries of the composer. Again, it has a post-rock ring to it, which gives it a life which otherwise would have been depression. “Mind in the Machine” is distinctly more upbeat, jolly even, but of course the voice behind it is anything but upbeat. In a sense this is like a solo acoustic-electric version of Katatonia. The song structures are simple. The messages are raw and intense. “These Shackles” is another searing piece of melancholic rock. In its tone, it’s like protest rock. “Divided and at War” closes this series of statements, starting gloomily but picks up the post rock, even slightly punkish ring as our guide vents his anger and bitterness.

At 17 minutes, there isn’t much to go on, but “Decline to Disorder” is an interesting collection. The songs are raw and heartfelt. Musically they’re well structured and even catchy. So, it’s black in theme but both melodic and harsh in a punkish post rock way. But what counts is that the songs are good and certainly made me want to listen.

(8/10 Andrew Doherty)

https://the-harvest-moon.bandcamp.com/album/decline-to-disorder