Mini Reviews From Around The Bowl – 9/6/2024
Reviews for God Is An Astronaut, Dusk Shrine, Construct Of Lethe, and Job For A Cowboy.
God is an Astronaut – Embers
Napalm | September 6th, 2024
I think many metal listeners like us had an instrumental post-rock phase in the late 2000s, and if so, God is an Astronaut was surely one of your go-tos. While we moved on to heavier stuff, the Irish trio continued pushing the genre forward, and in 2024, Embers welcomes you back in. Their ability to write infectious, dynamic grooves has only improved, this time seamlessly tying in some Eastern sounds with guest musicians performing sitar, zither, and other instruments. The instinct is to call this style relaxing background music, but there’s an undeniable anxiety in the tone and rhythm that holds your attention. The epic feel of Embers is more proof that these guys deserve to stay at the top of the genre. – Joaquin
Dusk Shrine – Celestial Trauma
Independent | July 19, 2024
Atmospheric and depressive black metal can be difficult propositions, but Dusk Shrine rides the line between both while swiftly circumventing the pitfalls of either. Vocals certainly sound anguished, but far from the painful howling associated with some DSBM. Songs feel expansive and are capable of build-ups, but stay well out of sight of the ten-minute mark. The guitar successfully evokes barren and frozen plains and can morph into a wall of ice in moments relying on more classical second-wave aggression. Excellent synths, sparse cleans, and a few sections that dial down the distortion add to the color palate and emotional range. The overall atmosphere might still bum you out, but rays of light are never far off. Fall’s coming, folks; might as well start getting in the mood. –Hans
Job For A Cowboy – Moon Healer
Metal Blade Records | February 23, 2024
Let me preface this by stating that, in general, I do like Job For A Cowboy. However I do not like this album at all. The promo materials came my way earlier in the year and there was just no way I could compose an entire review of Moon Healer, after months of racking my brain. Here’s what it boils down to: all the musicians in this band are very talented. Isolate any of the riffs, solos, bass lines, drum patterns and fills; and you’ve got yourself some real ear candy. But I swear they can not write good songs! It feels like they wrote hundreds of tiny compositions on little pieces of paper, mixed them all up in a bowl, and randomly picked them out to be assembled together into an album. Like magnet poetry! This latest release is a lot proggier than all previous ones, and as a huge prog-head, I posit that they don’t quite understand the genre. I’ve spun this release over 10 times and still can’t pick one memorable song. If I had to give this a score it would be a 2/5, and it seems like I’m in the minority with this take. Favorite tracks: all or none. –McNulty
Construct of Lethe – A Kindness Dealt In Venom
Transcending Obscurity | June 21, 2024
Construct of Lethe is no stranger to the TovH, and all their previous works have been stellar. I was so excited to hear this latest full-length, and it certainly helped that they had been signed to our favorite label Transcending Obscurity… but it pains me to say that this is a very difficult album for me to enjoy at certain parts. Let me first address the elephant in the room: out of the total 12 tracks, SEVEN of them act as short segues (/interludes) I guess. They might contains riffs and solos, or they might contain ambient noises with spooky spoken word. And some of them don’t even segue into, well, anything! For instance, the album closes with five of them in a row. The first 2/3rds could have made an excellent EP, but the latter third feels like filler. It’s so weirdly constructed, and therefore a bit of a letdown. A little rearranging of the track list would have done wonders. The actual songs are all terrific though, including time changes aplenty, absolutely crushing riffs, and those oh-so tasty Azagthoth-ian guitar solos. A Kindness Dealt In Venom isn’t bad by any means, it just leaves me scratching my head. They took a chance on this one and I’m not so sure it paid off. Favorite tracks: the five song songs.–McNulty
