Terraformer

"Mineral" opener Aegan is filled with big post-metal riffs and angular, off-kilter rhythms. Progressive but not in a head-scratching way, its also quite bleak and dark in places. I guess I shouldnt be surprised considering they share their homeland with Amenra. Theres a natural flow between Aegan and Adamantine, which means no pauses! Adamantine is a mixture of atonal riffs and glorious treble lead work. The percussion and bass just sit within the vast layers of sound, but are both still noticeable and add heft. Its really easy to lose yourself if this whole release, which is an aim that a lot of other bands dont fully achieve. Terraformer is able to create something thats really hard to aptly describe in writing with Amethyst. Its shorter length gives it more urgency yet its this constraint that really brings out their song-writing skill as a band. Its jaw-dropping. They flirt with menacing ambience at the beginning of Penelope, which is the sign of heavier things to come. Sure enough Terraformer delivers on that front with an incredibly bass-heavy tapestry of grind/crust/punk-like textures alongside their more familiar post-rock. Epoch is the release that you need after bottling up your emotions for too long. Its incredibly up-lifting. That high that you feel after Epoch stays with you through The Ether Shell, even though its on the heavier side. Its mid-section is more pop-like and the melodies are pretty hummable, flowing to a natural end via a wall of sound that fades in a sensitive way. I really feel like I should have written more about this record, however, I know that sometimes less is more.