Hi, you wanna know about us?Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 26/05/2017
Label: Temple
What you get is nothing short of spectacular. The soundscape intersects multiple metal subgenres, including funeral doom, black metal, drone and post metal. Moods throughout are bleak, as if the rumbling seas of Solaris are flicking gently at your mind and bouncing your hopes and fears to and fro.
“Alien World” CD//DD track listing:
1. Blind Ocean
2. Mirrors
3. Giant Monologue
4. Dawn For Nobody
5. Release
6. Dried Shadows
7. Black Wave
8. In Memories
The Review:
Metal has never been at a loss for concept albums. The idea versus the execution, however, is a matter that is worthy of serious interrogation. Stories can get clunky in the context of the songs. Or the songs can overwhelm the narrative a group might have wanted to present. So, when a performer succeeds at an especially grand concept, you are virtually compelled to take notice.
For Russian experimental/post-metal band Below the Sun, the concept of the sophomore release is quite ambitious. "Alien World" is centered around the idea of human memory. The science fiction novel "Solaris" by Polish author Stanislaw Lem inspires the recording. In the 1961 tome, scientists study the mythical oceanic planet Solaris from their research ship, only to discover that the planet itself is sentient and studying them. Moreover, Solaris has the ability to turn its human subjects' innermost thoughts into material form, and to bring them face-to-face with those creations. In the end, humanity is confronted with the truth that the thinking and intentions of alien life are wholly beyond our comprehension.
Below the Sunextended its complicated storyline to its composition as well. As you listen to "Alien World," you may be astounded to know that none of the eight songs contain synthesisers or samplers. Every sound you hear was made by guitars, bass, drums and vocals, though some of it is clearly enhanced by effects pedals.
What you get is nothing short of spectacular. The soundscape intersects multiple metal subgenres, including funeral doom, black metal, drone and post metal. Moods throughout are bleak, as if the rumbling seas of Solaris are flicking gently at your mind and bouncing your hopes and fears to and fro. Those sparse lyrics? You can just about close your eyes and see the anguished vocal in the visage of Lem's scientists, as they fully realize the lifeless planet they smugly believed they were prodding is very much intelligent, and instead invading their most humbling memories. The furious roar in "Dawn for Nobody," which comes about halfway through this package, almost feels a dawn of such a realization.
What additionally makes Below the Sun's new recording so distinguished is how it strikes all these emotional places, as much as brilliant art does, without being easy to classify. You will notice at least two dozen influences, including metal, classic rock, electronic and ambient music acts. Yet Below the Sundoesn't ape them or feel like a repeat. Its concept and sound is autochthonous, a base from which others may emerge.
"Alien World" is available here:
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