Insect Ark - Marrow Hymns

Insect Ark has been one of my favorite bands in Brooklyn since I moved here in late 2015. They are mesmerizing to see live, be it in the two person formation, or just Dana Schecter (Also of Gnaw) performing as a soloist. It's the sort of beautiful and transcendent post music that you can really get lost in. Now they are back after three years and bigger than ever, released on Profound Lore and a significant step forward for the group. It feels like Marrow Hymns is the sort of authoritative artistic triumph we need to hear in 2018.

The most notable aspect of Insect Ark has always been the slide guitar, but Schecters mastery of the instrument has really been pushed further on this release, and the haunting melodies crafted fit in perfectly with the eerie soundscapes. The occasional reassuring bottom end swells brings us all back to reality, adding a strange sense of substance to the potent drums, dialed back as per usual to allow a stunning sense of openness. Tied into this is the subdued poetry of the songwriting, each track here is a piece of a journey, tied together by an album that gets all the more fascinating with every additional spin.

It's hard not to fall in love with Marrow Hymns. It's a record that embraces all the glory that post music and avant garde is supposed to have, but simultaneously remains surprisingly easy to listen too. The minimalist underpinnings of Insect Ark shine through here and mean that this isn't a record that forces you to pick it apart. Instead it can be listened too on multiple levels, first exploring the mystery and magic around the release, and then on a deeper level, engaging in the songwriting and falling in love all over again.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/InsectArk/

Sólstafir w/Nordic Giants in Paris (@Le Nouveau Casino, 27/01/2015)

Rushing across Paris as fast as humanly possible, I arrived at Le Nouveau Casino last thuesday with the firm determination of not missing out on a single song that evening. As I took the time to catch my breath, I stepped into the venue to find the room absolutely jam-packed with people.  With both French dates marked as sold-out, it seems pretty clear that, in light of last years’ unfortunate tour cancellation, Solstafir’s concert had been long-awaited by French fans.

Opening for the Icelandic quartet was a post-rock band named Nordic Giants. The duo took to the stage wearing tribal clothes and masks covered in feathers foreshadowing the importance of the visual aspect of the bands' performance. Making use of the stages' backdrop as well as a TV screen placed at the front of the stage, the bands' music acted as a score for various short films, embarking every single audience member on a poetic voyage beyond reality to explore the endless wonders of human imagination.
The band visibly took great care in turning their shows into a perfectly cohesive show, as the compositions were perfectly fitted to bring each short film to life, creating an incredibly immersive experience. With one anonymous musician handling keyboards and the occasional trumpet sections on one hand, and the other taking care of percussions and guitar duties, the band managed to create an impressively rich, larger-than-life quality with their climactic songs.  Each song had its beautiful and haunting melodies within rich compositions paced with superb crescendos and outbursts of thunderous drum grooves. The second half of their set marked the appearance of a few sampled guest vocalists who were brilliantly incorporated into the scenery of each cinematic piece.
In short, Nordic Giants provided us with an incredibly beautiful musical and visual experience to which I can only respond to by giving my highest praise. For any fans of cinematic post-rock from the likes of Maybeshewill or God is an astronaut, I highly recommend checking out this band and looking out for their upcoming performances.

Then came the time for tonights' headling act to mark their long awaited return to Le Nouveau Casino. Starting things off with the moody intro Náttfari off their now 10 year old album Masterpiece of Bitterness, it did not take more than the first few notes for the band to instantly mesmerize their entire audience with their unique sonicscapes of unfathomable beauty. Following the brief intro, the band went straight to business by hitting off with the excellent Köld, off their album of the same name. With the exception of 1 more song off each of the aforementioned albums, the bands' set will go on to feature exclusively songs off their last 2 records, with an emphasis on their latest full-length effort: Ótta.
Anyone having witnessed a live show by the Icelandic quartet must understand how captivating it was to see and hear these majestic compositions come to life before our very eyes. As every song drew to a close, the sound of every instrument would gradually die out to eventually leave way for the five or six seconds of silence from an audience completely taken away. I found myself deeply moved every time every song would fade into these lulling moments of silence followed by thunderous cheers from the audience, these brief fragile moments during which everyone slowly returns to the present moment after having been carried far, far away.
The sound of wailing bowed guitars and magnificent, roaring reverberated leads echoing across the venue were complemented by what I can only qualify as a perfect vocal performance. Not only staying pitch-perfect, Aðalbjörn "Addi" Tryggvaso's powerful live vocals convey an incredible amount of raw emotion on every song. I've even spotted a couple of audience members that were so moved during the gig that they would occasionally break into tears of joy.
Other than that, the show had a few moments during which some instruments weren't audible enough (most notably the banjo and the rhythm guitar), but needless to say that these minor issues did little to bother, let alone compromise the band's absolutely stellar performance.

In short, Tuesdays’ gig at Le Nouveau Casino was one of top-quality performances for both bands. With Nordic Giant's awe inspiring cinematic post-rock set and Solstafir’s powerfully engaging take on post-metal, this was certainly not an evening to miss out on. For any fans that happened to have missed out on this sold-out gig, I can only suggest you pay close attention to both bands' future tour dates.

Robin

Nordic Giants 

Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/nordicgiants

Official Website

http://www.nordicgiants.co.uk/

Sólstafir

Facebook  

https://www.facebook.com/solstafirice

Nordic Giants Setlist 

1. (Unknown)     (film - "Lunar" by Tyson Wade Johnston)
2. Mechanical Minds     (film - "The Gift" by Carl Erik Rinsch)
3. The Seed     (film - "Death of an Insect"… more )
4. Through a Lens Darkly     (film - "The Last Breath" by David Jackson)
5. Néoténie     (film - "Reload" by Jodeb)
6. Together     (film - "Pencilhead" by Pencilhead.me)
7. Little Bird     (film - "Solipsist" by Andrew Thomas Huang)
8. (Unknown)
Outro (film - "The Last Breath" final scene)

 

 

Sólstafir setlist
1. Náttfari
2. Köld
3. Lágnætti
4. Rismál
5. Ótta
6. Svartir Sandar
7. Djákninn
8. Dagmál
9. 78 Days in the Desert
____________________
10. Fjara
11. Goddess of the Ages

The Grasshopper Lies Heavy-Every Man For Himself And God Against All

I've never been to San Antonio, why, I've never even been to Texas, but they must have some pretty crazy stuff going on out there for a record like this to come from those sun-blasted fields. The Grasshopper Lies Heavy are the sort of band who make you ask, is this even music? And somehow, you find it within yourself to realize that the answer is a resounding yes. There new record Every Man For Himself And God Against All is a release that almost annihilates the need for traditional music because it is so all encompassing, and somehow, all powerful.

These guys have done something with Every Man For Himself And God Against All they have captured my imagination, and then beat it it to a pulp. This is the sort of bloody, ungodly destruction that leaves people feeling weak and overcome, there is no redemption from this pure nihilistic annihilation. The Grasshopper Lies Heavy speak right to the heart, soothing and strange words, before reaching down your throat, and ripping it out. Four listens in, I'm still not quite sure what to make of this very unique release, only that it defies genres and leaves me almost in tears at times, simply that powerful of a record, it escapes all human comprehension, leaving you to put together shards of memory.

In conclusion, Every Man For Himself And God Against All may not necessarily be the best album of the year, but it is certainly one of the most interesting. It crafts bizarre and unique soundscapes that leave you trying to understand where you came from, and then where you are going. This record is completely instrumental, allowing it to talk to us on a much more fundamental level and then makes you lose yourself in the nihilistic apocalypse that is ungodly and pure heavy metal madness. So open your heart, fall into the void, and become aware.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/grasshopperliesheavy

A Sudden Burst of Colour

A Sudden Burst of Colour is a most excellent instrumental ambient group from Motherwell in Scotland. Their musical mastery takes on a unique form, from a band who seek to capture gentler and more powerful sounds without ever resorting to distortion, but instead pure vibes. A band with a regal attitude who unflinchingly craft regal soundscapes there is a lot to love in A Sudden Burst of Colours music. Their latest release Reborn is a continued testament to the unabasged greatness of a band who do not fear doing their own thing but instead use their iconoclastic attitude to craft something new and fresh, instrumental beauty for a new generation. While some might deride A Sudden Burst of Colour as beinga product of the shoegaze movement I feel like it's totally fine, simply because these guys know what they want to do and how to pull it off. It creates a fun and dynamic record that has a solemn beauty that can not be touched. If you're looking for a band who have the potential to be the next big thing in post rock then A Sudden Burst of Colour could very well be the group for you!

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/asbocmusic/app_204974879526524

Labrinto/thisquietarmy Split

So today I have a new split for you all to check out. An ambient post rock record featuring two stellar groups Labrinto and thisquietarmy the groups are wholly unique yet their sounds work together to create a flowing and beautiful record. A beautiful way to kick off your day the aural caresses of these two bands come together and reach into the listeners soul. There is a lot to get lost in with this record the elegant ebbs and eddies of the music create vast soundscapes that cause the soul to forget where it is and fully immerse itself in the music.

The main difference between the two groups is that Labrinto is a bit more guitar focused than thisquietarmy. Yet note, even if Labrinto is not afraid to use heavy guitars they still very much fit in the context of an ambient record. Meanwhile thisquietarmy craft huge wide open soundscapes that carry the listener away on their majestic and elegant wings. Yet when the album I listen too as a whole one really gets the artistic message of the groups. Their music intertwines to create a magnificent record that sticks with the listener long after listening.

In conclusion, if you're looking for something truly beautiful, a record that understands the magic of ambient and post music then the Labrinto/thisquietarmy split is something you are going to want to check out. At times even reminiscent of bands like Alcest or Agalloch even my most metal readers will probably dig this record. Beautiful and easy to fall in love with this is quite possibly my favorite split of the year and definitely one of the best post music albums to have come out in a long time. With more great stuff in the works the future seems bright for both of these bands, soon they may be able to take on a global stage!

Find them on Facebook!

Labrinto-https://www.facebook.com/labirintoband

thisquietarmy- https://www.facebook.com/thisquietarmy?ref=ts&fref=ts

When Icarus Falls-Aegean

When I saw When Icarus Falls was a self-described "Post hardcore" band I was dismayed. I was afraid of having to review some boring formulaic pile of mush. Yet as I opened the album up and got a taste of the nifty packaging I started to hope. I was not expecting When Icarus Falls' use of the term Post Hardcore to mean a new breed of post metal that just has a bit more of a hardcore influence. In fact, in my opinion this is what Post Hardcore SHOULD be, that other stuff can just be labeled "Metal for 13 year olds" so we can be done with it. As is, Aegean is a mature release that shows a sludgy and grinding band in their inexorable push towards a metal nirvana.

The songs on this album are slow and crushing yet they never lose their sense of purpose. With multiple tracks that bleed over 9 minutes the proggy nature of the band is allowed to shine through. The destructive power of the riffs and their slow forward motion is simply unforgettable. I love this idea of having a slowed down and experimental hardcore sound, that, while at first glance very far from bands like Hatebreed, starts to make sense after a while. They both have a clear destination and a raw anger that can appeal to many. Its simply that Aegean is much more mature and bizarre.

To wrap up, this Lausanne based quintet is blazing a new trail with their own unique brand of post metal that will blow your mind and slowly push you towards a transcendent state. The anguish embodied by Aegean is rarely matched in the post metal scene. Most black metal bands would have difficulty pushing their sound into this realm of darkness, yet When Icarus Falls do it with ease. An album that probably wouldn't appeal to most metalheads it will certainly capture the hearts of a devout few. Fans of post-metal will rejoice upon discovering this album, others will merely try to understand.

Check them out on facebook ye trve brethren
https://www.facebook.com/whenicarusfalls