You only have to tune into my show on TotalRock (Dark Tryal, 21:00 every Sunday) to realise how much I love The Artisan Era. In fact, it’s somewhat of a joke, but one that I think is very valid, almost everyone who I introduce to this label falls in love with them and realises, much like I do that they are slowly becoming the beacon of Tech Death. Sure, Unique Leader has history but these guys are fresh and building a roster that honestly might be amongst the strongest in the Death Metal world right now. So, when an album from said label drops in at Ave Noctum you best believe I’m going to snatch it up!
Today we look to Switzerland and a band called Stortregn. Now despite the bands history I’ve never heard of them until now! They formed in 2006 and have released (including their latest) five full length albums! That’s without the addition of an EP and a split. So how have they flown under the radar for me for so long? Who knows, nevertheless here they are with their latest full length album Impermanence the follow up to 2018’s Emptiness Fills The Void record. Now my hopes are naturally pretty high, but will I be disappointed?
Ghosts Of The Past opens up the album in a beautiful Prog/ Tech manner, leading into some stunning Melodic Death/ Black Metal guitars. When the vocals kick in it reminds me in part of Enfold Darkness, a band whom I hold in very high regard. The combination of Death/ Black growls and shrieks is something that really should be adopted by more bands of this ilk. The seamless blend into Moon, Sun, Stars is something truly beautiful and very Prog influenced. Often, I feel a lot of Tech/ Melodic Death can have a somewhat plastic tone to it, this however is multifaceted and truly dynamic, it doesn’t rest upon age old troupes but rather thinks for itself. The aforementioned track for example employs elements of more Extreme Metal at points, whilst still keeping the fires of Tech/ Melodic Death alive, the solo in particular is to be the envy of even the most skilled classic Heavy Metal acts. Cosmos Eater gives us some sort of otherworldly tone, particularly in the Tech laden guitars. In fact, it’s the guitars here that I wish to highlight, I love how this album isn’t wall to wall Tech, rather it chooses its moments to be extreme and its moments to add a little flare, again a trait missing from a lot of modern Tech Death records. The title track may be (predictably) instrumental but personally I really appreciate it, this is a full album experience and this kind of track has a place in such a release, it’s nothing too out of the box save for some impressive drumming but it strings the album together nicely.
Getting immediately epic is Grand Nexion Abyss, that opening portion is a real full Metal delight. When it weaves into the fast-paced drumming it just gets even better, Prog Death done perfectly! Honestly, what a stunning track, instrumentally delectable, this is the exact reason that I rant and rave about the mighty Artisan Era. Again, with perfect smoothness we enter Multilayered Chaos, I really appreciate the more Blackened vocals on this track, they give it a sort of nastiness and show the darker side of this incredible band. Timeless Splendor sees that we don’t forget just how talented Stortregn are, those riffs bring this song to life, not to mention the clean vocals which add further depth to the album. The album all comes to a close with the awesome Nénie, I think what is most special about this track is the fact that it’s not made as this huge climactic ending, no, this is simply another fantastic track on the album. An album which manages to keep you on the edge of your seat throughout.
Now that’s what I call an album, Impermanence is without a shadow of a doubt the best thing I’ve heard in 2021 and truth be told I think it’s going to take some beating. Once again, I owe it all to The Artisan Era. The platform that this label creates is so awesome that it has meant that I’ve been able to discover this band at five albums in, I’m very pleased to have a nice back catalogue to now dig through. If you want to know what modern Tech Death sounds like then it’s right here. Also, it’s worth noting that this is certainly an album for people who aren’t as into the over-the-top saxophone wielding of the likes of Rivers Of Nihil, not that I’m against that but this is real, pure modern Tech Death with no special frills other than killer song writing.
(10/10 George Caley)
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