Idre - Unforgiving Landscapes

Tracklist:-

1. Gold & Crude

2. Prison Skin

It was way back in 2014 that I first featured Oklahoma City's Idre. It was the self-titled CD that I featured back then. I recently found out about their latest two-song effort when they (and Wolves & Vibrancy Records) both e-mailed me. It's taken me a little longer than I would have liked to be able to sit and write about this, but here I am. Their new record was released in May of this year on LP and  tape via (Wolves & Vibrancy Records & Breathe Plastic), as well as digitally. Idre is joined by a guest vocalist in the form of Lacey Elaine Tackett (Cherry Death) and guest harpist M. Bailey Stephenson (AKA Sun Riah) too.

“Unforgiving Landscapes” features two songs that span almost 45 minutes and expands upon Idre’s experimental, post-metal sound. Gold & Crude opens with droning bass and meek guitar. The drumming that enters the fray around the three-minute mark sounds very ritualistic as it heralds in heavier riffs, while the vocals sound more like occult chants soaring and echoing above the music. It’s a relaxing listen and it doesn’t get too heavy, which is fine because the music doesn’t really warrant it. Idre is content with weaving their images in a more considered manner. If Gold & Crude was the droning, mournful number then second track Prison Skin is the more experimental, colourful one. There are elements of notable artists like Ennio Morricone nestling in the guitars and vocal harmonies. The screeching feedback that hits you at the four-minute mark is somewhat shocking and it gives way to crunching doom-like riffs. Those more colourful moments come in fits and starts but as with Idre’s music in general, the song is one to persevere with and savour. It shuts down completely about ten minutes in, but it’s not too long before the Spaghetti Western style guitar melodies begin again, albeit briefly. They themselves give way to the heaviest instrumentation on the record and with the vocals alongside, provides the most menacing glimpse of the band and their co-conspirators yet. “Unforgiving Landscapes” is a hell of a lot more immersive than my review makes it sound (I’m saying that because I don’t feel as though I’ve written enough about it). Both songs are full of atmosphere and intrigue. It’s great to see Idre’s music reaching a wider audience too. Check them out.

You can stream and download "Unforgiving Landscapes" below, where you can also purchase LP/Tape copies directly from the band:-

Depending on where you are in the world, you can also pick copies up from the labels below:-

Wolves & Vibrancy Records Store - http://wolvesandvibrancyrecords.tictail.com
Breathe Plastic Records Store - https://breatheplastic.bandcamp.com/merch

Idre - https://www.facebook.com/IdreBand/
Wolves & Vibrancy Records - https://www.facebook.com/wolvesandvibrancyrecords/
Breathe Plastic Records - https://www.facebook.com/breatheplastic