ALBUM REVIEW: Bossk - "Audio Noir"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 01/04/2016
Label: Deathwish Inc

The shimmering soundscapes of “The Reverie” gently ease the album into life. The track glides through waves of serene guitar atmospherics, before being crushed under a slab of molten distortion. Even though the classic quiet/loud dynamics of post-rock are employed here, Bossk manage to avoid the obvious, telegraphed crescendos by taking a more understated approach, conversely when they crank up, Bossk prove that they have honed their riffcraft to perfection. “Heliopause” is a relatively short burst of stoner aggravation while “Atomsmasher” fully delivers on the cataclysmic power of its name.  In summation, Audio Noir” is a triumph for Bossk that sees them comfortably deliver on their fans’ anticipation for a full-length.

“Audio Noir” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). The Reverie
2). Heliopause
3). Relancer
4). Kobe
5). Atom Smasher
6). Nadir
7). The Reverie II

The Review:

Expectation lies heavy on “Audio Noir”, the debut LP from Bossk. The Kent post-metallers have garnered a devoted following since their inception in 2005 but hard-touring and lengthy periods have inaction have kept them from crafting a full album until now.

Bossk’s early EPs were solid releases that showcased the band’s epic sonic ambition without quite capturing the thunderous onslaught of their live shows. “Audio Noir” adeptly captures the colossal weight of the band in full flow and features their strongest material to date.

In the past, Bossk were clearly in thrall to post-metal titans like Cult of Luna and Isis. “Audio Noir” finds them again drawing on familiar influences but now they have remoulded them to create their own distinctive sound.

The shimmering soundscapes of “The Reverie” gently ease the album into life. The track glides through waves of serene guitar atmospherics, before being crushed under a slab of molten distortion. Even though the classic quiet/loud dynamics of post-rock are employed here, Bossk manage to avoid the obvious, telegraphed crescendos by taking a more understated approach. Heavily-reverbed guitar lines, brushed drums and what sounds like an accordion fuse to create a subtle epic on the awesome “Relancer”. A strange but effective combination of Earth, Beirut and Mogwai it shows that Bossk don’t need to resort to cacophonous volume to yield impressive results.

When they do crank up, Bossk prove that they have honed their riffcraft to perfection. “Heliopause” is a relatively short burst of stoner aggravation while “Atomsmasher” fully delivers on the cataclysmic power of its name. The first half of the track delivers a barrage of riffage that Sleep would be proud of before falling away into a hazy nocturnal coda. “Kobe” is a more restrained beast but still packs a ferocious punch. The first half of the track echoes the effects-heavy psychedelia of Baroness’ “Yellow & Green” while the second half recalls the glorious complex sludge of early Baroness.

“Audio Noir” is a triumph for Bossk that sees them comfortably deliver on their fans’ anticipation for a full-length. The band seems to have found their voice and hopefully they won’t take so long to deliver their next release.

“Audio Noir” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

RIYL: ISIS || Cult of Luna || Mouth of the Architect || Callisto

Instrumental Interpretations Part IV: Tempel – The Moon Lit Our Path (Album Review)

By: Phil Weller

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 16/6/2015

Label: Prosthetic Records

Take just one of those riffs, write an entire song around it, crown it with an anthemic chorus and you feel they could be enormous. But that would be betraying what the very foundation of what this band is, and so here we have sprawling and deft compositions that gravitate within their own compelling universe. They throw riffs and dextrous passages at you with abandon, each one succeeded by another of the same, sterling quality.

The Moon Lit Our Path CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Carving in the Door

2). The Moon lit our Path

3). Descending into the Labyrinth

4). Tomb of the Ancients

5). Dawn Breaks over the Ruins

The Review:

‘The Moon Lit Our Path’ isn’t so much an album as it is a gothic tome. It’s a metamorphic tale which, upon every listen, conjures within your mind different rancid characters and bloodied plots through their dark and ethereal instrumentation. There are no words, but their music, which nods its head most plainly to Opeth but also to other black, death and progressive metal acts, paints a thousand of them all the same.

That being said, as a consequence of the lengthiness of each song and few repeating and obvious hooks within them, listening to the album in its entirety can become a little overbearing. Yet, when the mood suits, let one of these five slimy and guttural Lovecraftian soundscapes take you away from this somewhat naff world of ours and into the murky depths of your own sordid imagination. When that happens, it’s quite special.

There’s just something about the atmospheres of these songs that bare similarities with the likes of HP Lovecraft, Poe and Stoker for me. The shadowiness, the sense of dread, evil and horripilation is tantalising but torturous all the while. From the Cthulu worship of ‘Carving In The Door’ and the love wrenched angst and fear of the title track, which captures the essence of Edgar Allen Poe exquisitely, I’ve never experienced an album like this before. You don’t listen to the songs, you read them. They don’t remind you of other bands – ‘Descending Into The Labyrinth’ aside, which is unmistakably Opeth, and in a good way – they remind you of authors, their stories and those chilling emotions you felt while reading them.

Though there are few hooks or ‘choruses’ per se, every single riff is intricately detailed and venomously, mercilessly executed. It’s almost, in some strange way, a shame that there are so many killer riffs lined up like convicts on Death Row in each and every song. Take just one of those riffs, write an entire song around it, crown it with an anthemic chorus and you feel they could be enormous. But that would be betraying what the very foundation of what this band is, and so here we have sprawling and deft compositions that gravitate within their own compelling universe. They throw riffs and dextrous passages at you with abandon, each one succeeded by another of the same, sterling quality.    

When the moment strikes, preferably under a funeral moon with rain rattling the window panes, simply pick one of these songs and lose yourself.

“The Moon Lit Out Path” is available here

FFO: Opeth, Cult of Luna, Callisto, Omega Massif

Band info: bandcamp | facebook | twitter

Callisto - Secret Youth (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 30/01/2015

Label: Svart Records

‘Secret Youth’ CD//DD//DLP track listing:

1. Pale Pretender
2. Backbone
3. Acts
4. The Dead Layer
5. Lost Prayer
6. Breasts of Mothers
7. Grey Light
8. Ghostwritten
9. Old souls
10. Dam’s Lair Road

Callisto are:

Jani Ala-Hukkala | vocals
Ariel Björklund | drums
Tero Holopainen | guitar
Arto Karvonen | keyboards
Markus Myllykangas | guitar
Juho Niemelä | bass
Jani Rättyä | Live percussion

Review:

Post-metal has had some real triumphs over the past decade, with bands like Isis, Cult of Luna and of course Neurosis being at the forefront. Finnish six piece Callisto certainly come under this genre, however instead of imitating the sounds of the aforementioned post-metal bands they have dabbled in a variety of genres progressing their sound from album to album. In their early days Callisto emerged as a doom/sludge band, then ventured into the more progressive realm with their second album ‘Noir’, and experimented further with clean vocals and varied instruments on third album ‘Providence’.  Latest album ‘Secret Youth’ is self-described as ‘progressive noise rock’, not my usual tipple but it certainly makes a refreshing change from dirge and blast beats.

For those wanting a staunch ‘metal’ album, look elsewhere. However, what it lacks in heavy metal it makes up for with haunting melodies, dreamy ambience and unique vocal style. The music is heavily layered and intelligently constructed with a clear production, although it’s hard to grasp on to a good solid riff, the whirling haze of noise that hangs subtly yet noticeably in the background is certainly compelling.

Experimental guitar sounds are utilized on ‘Pale Pretender’, demonstrating their unquestionable ability to generate distinctive music. ‘Backbone’ has a bit more oomph, thanks to a dash of extreme vocals alongside catchy vocal lines and disorienting synth. Instrumental interlude ‘The Dead Layer’ showcases their dexterity in texturing sounds, creating a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere, the two minute interlude possibly isn’t intended to be the standout track of the album but it is. As Callisto have changed their style of music with each album, perhaps an ambient drone album could be their key to greater success.

‘Secret Youth’ is overall a good album, however it’s just a bit magnolia, there’s no real climax it drifts along with no real peak. It’s an intelligently composed album, the instrumentation is structured with utter precision and to great effect, yet it just falls slightly flat. Nevertheless, Callisto is an intriguing band, and their ambition to try different things musically and step out of the comfort zone is highly commendable. My sheer curiosity will lead me to check out future albums.

Words by: Heather Blewett

‘Secret Youth’ is available via Svart Records

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