By:
Daniel Jackson
Album Type: EP
Date Released: 16/11/2017
Label: Apes Who Looked Up
‘Dichotomy’
is dynamic, brilliantly composed and dense enough to keep giving you something
new on repeat listens. It’s tough to nail down whether this is doom,
post-metal, or something else altogether, but whatever label you want to place
on it, it’s fucking powerful.
‘Dichotomy’ DD track listing:
1.
Zephyrvs
2.
Dichotomy
The Review:
The
peaks and valleys approach isn’t an easy one to get right in a metal context.
There are no shortage of bands implementing the soft verse/heavy chorus formula
well, but where compositions are less rigidly formulaic; a lot of bands fall
short or half-commit. Neurosis
has been great at it for more than twenty years now, and there have been a
handful of others too, but they’re exceptions to the rule.
Cetacean are a relatively
new band, but they’ve absolutely mastered the art of building to big climactic
moments. Right from this EP’s opening minutes, the band take their time, adding
layers and heft as they go until the song explodes with scintillating melody
and soaring lead guitar. From that point on, the music ebbs and flows; retracts
and expands. When it’s loud, it’s some of the most beautifully layered heavy
music I’ve heard this year. When it’s subdued, it comes at the perfect time,
and it always does a wonderful job of setting the stage for whatever peak comes
next.
Another
area where ‘Dichotomy’ excels is in
its use of less conventional instruments. The saxophone and organ work on the
title track suits each moment perfectly. The saxophone comes in at the midway
point, taking on a similar role to the instrument's used in Pink Floyd’s “Us
and Them”, before returning in later heavier sections, providing musical
unease when opportune. Even better is that these unique elements aren’t
hamfistedly shoved into the mix of things for the sake of it, but rather as
tasteful accompaniment and only under the right circumstances.
Whether it’s bursting with color and melody or
taking things into darker musical terrain, Cetacean
take you on a journey over the course of these two songs and eighteen minutes.
The valleys are alternately comforting or foreboding and the peaks are electric
and satisfying. ‘Dichotomy’ is
dynamic, brilliantly composed and dense enough to keep giving you something new
on repeat listens. It’s tough to nail down whether this is doom, post-metal, or
something else altogether, but whatever label you want to place on it, it’s
fucking powerful.
Full
Disclosure: Daniel contributed guest backing vocals to Cetacean’s previous release, ‘Breach | Submerge’.
