Sunpocrisy - Eyegasm, Hallelujah!

Tracklist:-

1. Eyegasm

2. Mausoleum Of The Almost

3. Transmogrification

4. Eternitarian

5. Of Barbs And Barbules

6. Kairos Through Aion

7. Gravis Vociferatur

8. Festive Garments

9. Hallelujah!

It's time to delve back into the crazy realm of Italian extreme metal. Well post-metal to be exact.  Eyegasm, Hallelujah! is the second full-length from Brescia's Sunpocrisy. Forming in 2007, Sunpocrisy had already released an EP and an earlier full-length prior to this latest effort last year. The pressing of the record was handled by Wooaaargh, Shove, Dullest and Drown Within Recs. They have some of the best visuals I've seen on an LP sleeve for a while and perusing their tour-posters on Facebook definitely gave me an eyegasm (sorry)!

Sunpocrisy consists of six members, which makes sense considering their progressive leanings. They present the unexpected on opener Eyegasm with clean singing and synths nestling alongside heavier guitar and off-kilter tempos. About a third of the way through the song the screams break out, but the melody remains. I think I can finally say that Italian post/progressive metal isn’t just operatic anymore (thank god). The opener segues into Mausoleum Of The Almost following an abrupt but brief pause. it follows Eyegasm in much the same vein. It’a subtly heavy in places but easier on the ear for those who don’t like extremes. The textures that Sunpocrisy weave are enchanting if you just sit back and listen. They are clever enough to temper their lengthy compositions with short interludes like Transmogrification. Eternitarian is the longest song on the album but as soon as it begins, it covers you in swathes of guitar and distant singing. I’m really struggling to find any sort of comparison for this record as well. After all, comparisons are an ugly beast. Back to the subject at hand though; Eternitarian is quite possibly the grandest song you’ll set ears on this year. The album’s second interlude, Of Barbs And Barbules soars like a majestic hymn and is pretty serene especially when the piano kicks in. Kairos Through Aion further accentuates how good this record is. Musically, Sunpocrisy doesn’t do anything too obscure or showy, which is why I like them. They keep things simple in a clever way, so their music actually sounds more complex even though it isn’t. The use of dual-harsh/clean vocals during Gravis Vociferatur adds another nuance to Eyegasm, Hallelujah!, as do the sporadic electronic effects. Penultimate song Festive Garments starts in truly hypnotic fashion with a nursery rhyme-esque melody, before getting very heavy indeed. At times it’s the most experimental song on the album and at other times it’s atonal riffs bring it down to a more generic level, but that’s no criticism. Hallelujah! signs off in style as do Sunpocrisy. Now this is a long album but it’s not the heavy slog you’d expect. Sunpocrisy makes it okay to listen to post/prog-metal again and do so in a way that brings the sound up to date. They’re adventurous and glorious. Over and out.

You can stream Eyegasm, Hallelujah! below:-

You can purchase download, CD and double gatefold LP versions of the record directly from Sunpocrisy above.

You can also buy physical copies from the below labels:-

Wooaaargh Recs - http://www.wooaaargh.com/
Drown Within Recs - https://drownwithinrecords.bandcamp.com/merch

Sunpocrisy Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sunpocrisy/
Wooaaargh Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WOOAAARGH/
Shove Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Shove
Dullest Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/DullestRecords
Drown Within Records Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/drownwithinrecords