genres: post-rock + black metal + death metal + grindcore
for fans of: Ulcerate, Deafheaven, Sigor Ros
When I think of post-rock, I think of grand instrumental soundscapes that build over many minutes. When I think of grindcore, I think of searingly short songs built around shrieking vocals and blistering guitars. So how do one of the most prestigious modern grind bands (who had already dropped a fantastic album a few months prior) release the best post-rock music of the year? Admittedly, Wake has hardly been pure grindcore for several releases, but beauty and restraint have never been elements they’ve played with much. Until now.
Album opener “Disparity and Chaos” opens with a serene riff over methodical pounding drums and subtle string accents that could perfectly soundtrack a peaceful hike through the forests of the band’s native Canada. About three minutes in, the build slows to a momentary standstill, before breaking into a cacophony of layered guitars, blast beats, and growls. The next eight minutes are a master class in subverting and fulfilling post-rock staples. Despite maintaining a constant wall of noise, individual guitar lines flit in and out of the mix accompanied by constantly shifting drum patterns. Taking a similar approach to melody as fellow experimental death metal band Ulcerate, structure and beauty is created not through singular instruments, but by letting the complex interplay of multiple guitars breathe. Each riff on its own would be incredibly dissonant, but put together form a truly harmonious sonic blend.
“Beyond Empyrean” reverses the process of the previous track, launching at full-tilt within seconds before slowing to a more restrained pace in the middle. Unstopping vocal lines keep the tension from dissipating however, preparing the listener to return to the opening passage that has now been layered with a truly triumphant guitar solo as the climax of the album. Closer “Entropic Cascade Failure” turns the dissonance up, as the tight connections between the different instruments are finally allowed to come apart as the album fades out into static. Awe-inspiring and fearsome, this album fully translates the experience of being unsheltered in the midst of a fierce thunderstorm miles from civilization, simultaneously at the mercy of the elements and undeniably beautiful.
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