Locust Leaves - A Subtler Kind Of Light

As I always say, I, Voidhanger Records is hands down one of the best labels going right now. They always sign weird and fascinating bands who I can't seem to get enough of. Such is the case with Locust Leaves whose latest offering A Subtler Kind Of Light shows a band obsessed with old school doom, King Diamond and weird experimental sounds. There is a lot to pick apart on this record, layers within layers and subtle hints at darker futures. This is a record crafted out of chaotic compositions and crushing chords that dive forward with a strange sense of purpose.

The inherent bombast of A Subtler Kind Of Light is undeniably seductive. The soaring vocals that dominate this record feel very old school, making the avant garde moments seem all the more poignant. It makes for a highly cerebral listen and one that you are going to want to come back to time and time again just to understand. The quality of the musicianship on this album is totally stunning with powerful bass lines coming in with jazzy glory and strange high speed fills pumping up a guitar attack clearly raised on the work of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal and early Bay Area thrash.

There is a lot to try and understand here and the four long form compositions don't always make it easy. It's weird when you're dealing with a band like Locust Leaves who are clearly enormously talented but who also have a very unique sound that often defies definition. They have the proggy magic of a band like Dreadnought but fuse it with a very down to earth sense of rock and roll magic. The solos are on point and the compositions are generally world breaking. If you can't fall in love with A Subtler Kind Of Light you might just be broken inside.