GAEREA
Loss
While rooted firmly in black-metal, Portuguese masked collective GAEREA utilises the genre to bring to life their own distinctive creativity while avoiding sealing themselves fully within the confines of one style. Loss reveals a further step taken by GAEREA along their uniquely carved path. The sonic quality of the music sees an expanse in the influences incorporated. Across Loss, GAEREA’s lyrics are raw and poignant, as is the performance of ferocious harsh and, for the first time, vulnerable and steadfast cleans. Musically the arrangements, both across the tracks and the album in its entirety, powerfully convey the emotions of Loss.
Loss ignites into life with Luminary. GAEREA’s enthralling atmospheric style is met with explosive intensity in this opening track. Stylistic characteristics of black metal bleed through though it’s sound in a manner that is fluid and dynamic. The arrangement is deeply expressive, from the memorable, emotive chorus, to the sombre and haunting moods that are present across the song. Submerged begins with a delicate piano melody that is soon consumed in the fast-pace and weightiness of the metal instruments. It’s a display of contrasts; one moment the impact is aggressive and harrowing the next there is a breath of serenity. Clean vocals provide a vulnerability against the fierce anguish of the harsh. The introduction of clean vocals in GAEREA’s music is seamless. It’s not forced; it feels natural in amidst the progression of their sound in Loss.
A gloomy shroud emerges from Hellbound. The extreme heaviness carries a fierce brutality. The rhythmic intensity, thunderous chorus hook, and progressive aspects in the musical arrangement see this track diverge in an unexpected direction. Arriving in earnest, Uncontrolled delivers unrelenting force. Emotion is entwined in the chord progressions and instrumental patterns and is revealed in the shadowy lyric “set me free”. Muted guitars open Phoenix with a sense of anticipation. Anthemic progressions fuel the chorus, while the track intersperses brief sections of calm between obliterating heaviness. Cyclone’s dreamy introduction tone centres clean vocals in the music before allowing the darkness to return.
The eerie soundscape of LBRNTH is devilishly inviting. Electronics, percussion and ethereal feminine vocals inject another layer to the sonic quality of Loss. The ethereality ties over into Nomad. High speed and ferocious, it’s a sharp and sudden return into heavy realms. Nomad’s catchy chorus brings a stylistic shift in the emotive delivery of the song. Stardust’sraw lyrics soar above a gentle piano melody. Interrupted with volatile heaviness, the two moods combine as the lyric “are you still with me, when I fall apart?” is repeated with longing and anguish. Groove rhythms, movement, and genre-defying contrasts all lead back to the song’s central theme and lyrics. A contrast of extremes remains at the centre of GAEREA’s writing. The intensity on Loss is elevated through this more stylistically open approach. Black-metal has been by no means abandoned but rather is enhanced through its entwinement with complementary and juxtaposing elements. • HR
For fans of: Zeal & Ardor, MØL, Sylosis
‘Loss’ by GAEREA is out now on Century Media Records.
Hellripper
Coronach
It’s a good thing that Hellripper no longer sound like James McBain’s head is lodged in a shoebox during recording. When your debut’s called Complete And Total Fucking Mayhem, it might work, but given McBain’s ambitions have always peered beyond just scabby, shoestring black-metal, moving on is for the best. Five albums in with Coronach, then, it’s arguably the broadest a Hellripper album has ever sounded. Speed- and thrash-metal hold presence alongside McBain’s necro-gnash, topped off with some choppy Motörheading, and even theatricality and, dare I say, camp. Not quite to the level of Ghost-style whizzbangs, but the closing title track interpolates Chopin’s Funeral March, so, y’know…we’re getting there.
To call Coronach ‘fun’ implies a levity that simply isn’t here, but in the tongue-in-cheek way that black-metal from non-corpse-painter LARPers tends to be, it’s absolutely entertaining. A song like Blakk Satanik Fvkkstorm gives that off from title alone. Past that, the tempos and gnarly tones always work well, and although they never produce some nailed-on brilliance exclusive to Hellripper, you probably won’t be dissatisfied, either. Coronach makes ripping along with reckless abandon the most natural thing in the world, executed by McBain with zero fuss. Don’t think too much and enjoy the ride. • LN
For fans of: Venom, Bathory, Motörhead
‘Coronach’ by Hellripper is released on 27th March on Century Media Records.
Dry Socket
Self Defense Techniques
Unlike the similarly-named, extravagantly less exciting emo band Dryjacket, Dry Socket waste no time on Self Defense Techniques. “Tired of being scared, exhausted by their hate / No longer living to appease and placate” is Dani Allen’s opening missive on The Chop, and the tone is immediately set. You then get 17 minutes of hardcore that, even at its least savage, could flay the skin off your face with look. That’s Leglock, by the way, a rock-tumbler of a punk riff that’s still rippling with fighting spirit.
Across the remainder of Self Defense Techniques, Dry Socket’s verging-on-powerviolence inflammation and Allen’s shredded larynx form an unshakable core. It’s designed to be spoiling for a fight, where oppressive systems that force essential human traits to be dulled and compromised are left as mauled, bloody ribbons. Clenched Fist and Tookit For Survival are fast and blistering enough to make that undeniable, but there’s nary a wasted second here. Dry Socket are locked in on their mission, fittingly without dullness or compromise.
Beyond that, this isn’t an album requiring deep, probing dissection. It’s hardcore, and of a particular stripe that, if it slashes quickly and fervently enough, will always do some damage. Dry Socket pull that off with pinpoint focus and intent; other than some wonky vocal / instrumental timing towards the end of 95%, there’s not an errant thread to be found. It’s just real, fat-free, kick-ass, rip-your-limbs-off hardcore executed to near-flawlessness. Literally, what more could you want? • LN
For fans of: G.L.O.S.S., Soul Glo, Stress Positions
‘Self Defense Techniques’ by Dry Socket is released on 27th March on Get Better Records.
Words by Holly Royle (HR) and Luke Nuttall (LN)
