Tracklist:-
1. Torpor - Jasager
2. Torpor - Environs
3. Torpor - Agalma
4. Sonance - End Your Life
5. Sonance - Under And Under
6. Sonance - Capes
I've chosen to fall back into the comforting arms of my blog, as I'm sick to the back teeth of reading about "Trump" and "AC/DC". 2016's relentless release schedule carries on unabated and it seems that UK sludge/doom is going to be in for a busy year. Sonance and Torpor come together on one mighty slab of wax, that will see the light of day via Holy Roar Records sub-label Truthseeker Music this April. Torpor's previous record "From Nothing Comes Everything" is one of my favourite records period, while Sonance is a band that I've overlooked slightly (through no fault of their own), so now I want to put that right.
This is my first listen to Torpor since they went from a four-piece to a trio. All I can say is that it’s had no effect on their sound, as split opener Jasager proves. Heavy and rumbling bass, driving walls of guitar noise, crashing yet sprawling percussion and low-bellowed vox make it a very different beast to the sound that made up “From Nothing Comes Everything”. After it’s initial burst of hellish sludge, Jasager meanders through a stop/start mid-section. As Torpor turns the volume up once more, subtle layers of sound become obvious and it no longer feels so claustrophobic. Environs cuts a strange figure against the backdrop of Jasager. It’s more ambient and minimal, with clean vocals set back in the mix. It feels like it’s going to explode at any second but Torpor show restraint and use it instead to build expectation for Agalma. Agalma is a cold and mesmeric song. It’s slow groove is almost hypnotic, though you never actually get to that point because those bellowing vocals are there to snap you out of any trance. It ends Torpor’s side of the spit on a euphoric high. Sonance open their side with End Your Life and despite the negative connotations of it’s title, the song itself begins in a calming and thoughtful fashion. It’s not long before that calm feeling is overtaken by one of dread thanks to looping feedback and tribal-like drum rhythms. When things fully kick in at the three-minute mark, Sonance’s crust-filled noise throws out any chance of being pigeonholed. The screams on Under And Under are frightening to say the least. Not because they’re unholy or anything but because of the sheer volume that they’re delivered at. They provide the perfect centrepiece for an epic song. Capes provides some respite from the intensity with an altogether different atmosphere. It’s semi-acoustic melodies are soothing but it does feel as though something more sinister is in the offing as the song progresses. Sonance slowly but but surely adds in more dissonant flavours but Capes still manages to retain it’s melody. This split is once again proof that the UK is probably producing the best music of 2016 so far. Both Torpor and Sonance are logical split partners and the atmosphere they create is second to none. Make sure you pick this up on pre-order or once it’s released, as it won’t be around for long!
You can stream and purchase download/pre-order copies below:-
This is my first listen to Torpor since they went from a four-piece to a trio. All I can say is that it’s had no effect on their sound, as split opener Jasager proves. Heavy and rumbling bass, driving walls of guitar noise, crashing yet sprawling percussion and low-bellowed vox make it a very different beast to the sound that made up “From Nothing Comes Everything”. After it’s initial burst of hellish sludge, Jasager meanders through a stop/start mid-section. As Torpor turns the volume up once more, subtle layers of sound become obvious and it no longer feels so claustrophobic. Environs cuts a strange figure against the backdrop of Jasager. It’s more ambient and minimal, with clean vocals set back in the mix. It feels like it’s going to explode at any second but Torpor show restraint and use it instead to build expectation for Agalma. Agalma is a cold and mesmeric song. It’s slow groove is almost hypnotic, though you never actually get to that point because those bellowing vocals are there to snap you out of any trance. It ends Torpor’s side of the spit on a euphoric high. Sonance open their side with End Your Life and despite the negative connotations of it’s title, the song itself begins in a calming and thoughtful fashion. It’s not long before that calm feeling is overtaken by one of dread thanks to looping feedback and tribal-like drum rhythms. When things fully kick in at the three-minute mark, Sonance’s crust-filled noise throws out any chance of being pigeonholed. The screams on Under And Under are frightening to say the least. Not because they’re unholy or anything but because of the sheer volume that they’re delivered at. They provide the perfect centrepiece for an epic song. Capes provides some respite from the intensity with an altogether different atmosphere. It’s semi-acoustic melodies are soothing but it does feel as though something more sinister is in the offing as the song progresses. Sonance slowly but but surely adds in more dissonant flavours but Capes still manages to retain it’s melody. This split is once again proof that the UK is probably producing the best music of 2016 so far. Both Torpor and Sonance are logical split partners and the atmosphere they create is second to none. Make sure you pick this up on pre-order or once it’s released, as it won’t be around for long!
You can stream and purchase download/pre-order copies below:-
Sonance Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sonancenoise/
Torpor Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/torporsound
Truthseeker Music Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/truthseekmusic
Holy Roar Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/holyroarrecords/
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