Labels: Pelagic Records
Formats: Vinyl/CD/Digital
Release Date: 28 Mar 2025
Tracklist:
1. Oath
2. Augury
3. Knife Edge Effect
4. Tears In Fibre
5. A Silent Bridge
6. End Transmission
7. Home
I can't believe that it's already almost the end of January. It seems like a couple of days since I started to plan what I was going to write about this month. I knew early on that I'd be writing about the soon-to-be-released fourth full-length from Polish/English post-metal quartet Telepathy. Transmissions will be released by Pelagic Records in late March and is currently available for pre-order. Residing in the UK, Telepathy have been active as a band since 2011 and have been consistently releasing music ever since.
I write this review as I eagerly await my first subscription box of the year from Pelagic Records. To be honest, I’ve spent way too much on record this month but let’s gloss over that and get lost in Transmissions, which starts with already available single ‘Oath’. Telepathy’s sound is a beguiling collage of progressive and instrumental post-metal, intertwined with cleverly placed samples and subtle synths. It’s no wonder that Pelagic chose to add them to their roster.
I feel that this year is already shaping up to be a special year for heavy music (I’ve said that a few times already here and I’m sticking by it). Opening with a 9+ minute song in the form of ‘Oath’ shows that Telepathy are here for the long-haul and honestly, it’s the perfect beginning as it effortlessly flows into ‘Augury’, which grows with every bar and note. We need more albums where bands just play constantly and ignore those stupid pauses between songs, as they ruin the flow.
‘Knife Edge Effect’ has a very different feel to it as it’s filled with more samples and elegantly placed synths. It’s not an interlude by any stretch but it relies less on Telepathy’s heavier instrumentation until much later on, where it sounds like they throw in some harsh vocals (that of course may be additional samples).
The first of two properly lengthy songs is the mid-point number ‘Tears In Fibre’, which weighs in at over 14 minutes and is one of those songs that grows slowly. It’s layered instrumentally in such a way that it’s movements seem to flow in and out like the tide. At this point we’re not even halfway through yet either. The song’s latter half is much more progressive and also slower in tempo as Telepathy move in a sludgier/doomier direction.
‘A Silent Bridge’ isn’t silent but is a bridge between the lengthiest songs on Transmissions. One filled with samples, crackling noise and synth-laden ambience. It gives way to the oddly titled ‘End Transmission’, which isn’t the final song on the album. It is the album’s longest song though and it benefits from a greater playing time, as Telepathy’s instrumentation really deserves it. The song slides effortlessly between heavier movements and quieter ones that are again filled with subtle samples that add more mystique to both band and record.
Album closer ‘Home’ is much more stripped back and has that warm embrace about it, the sort you get when you return to somewhere familiar and safe. That feeling is banished at the midway point through as Telepathy throw new layers of sound in. After a sudden break in the music, the album ends in haunting fashion. This album gives you a feeling of hope yet also despair. The instrumentation is breathtakingly good throughout but there’s just something about those samples, I just can’t put my finger on what it is. Either way, I can’t wait for it’s official release in March, It’s gonna be well worth it.
You can stream 'Oath' and pre-order Transmissions on all formats below:-
Telepathy - https://www.facebook.com/telepathyband
Pelagic Records - https://www.facebook.com/pelagicrecords
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