Release
date: May
10th
2019. Label: Haywire
Records.
Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Different
Layers Of Fear
– Tracklisting
1.Where
Were You When We Were Into the Void?
2.God
Help Us All
3.Focus
4.Contra
5.Ol'
Painless
6.A
Glitch in the Sun
7.Manos
Members
Wehry
- Guitar
Casian
- Guitar
Mihai
- Bass
Retea
- Drums
Review
Methadone
Skies new album - Different Layers Of Fear - is perhaps their most
engaging and heaviest album to date. The band play a darker, bolder
and progressive style of Instrumental Stoner Rock/Metal compared to
their previous albums. Methadone Skies don't shy away from creating
complex sounding rhythms throughout the course of the album.
Taking
influence from bands such as TOOL, Pelican and Russian Circles on
this album. This sees the band adapting a more Post-Rock/Post-Metal
influence to their music and this allows Methadone Skies to play
styles of music that I haven't heard them play before. With this
being their fourth album to date, the band needed to change things
round and that's why you can hear elements of Ambient Doom, Post-Rock
and Post-Metal merged with their standard Stoner Rock/Metal sound.
Different
Layers Of Fear maybe slightly too long running over seventy minutes
but at least there is plenty of music to keep you entertained and
mentally stimulated for a long to come.
Standout
songs on the album include - Where Were You When We Were Into The
Void, God Help Us All, Focus, Of Painless, A Glitch In The Sun (which
features guest vocals from one of my favourite singers – Davide
Straccione of ZIPPO and Shores Of Null fame). and Manos. As this is
where Methadone Skies impress the most with their different styles of
Progressive Rock/Metal. The whole album has a truly cinematic feel
especially when the more experimental and ambient sounds appear.
Glitch
In The Sun is perhaps my favourite song on the album as the vocals
are quite emotional and feel inspired by David Bowie in places. The
music can be quite uplifting before the band bring everything
crashing down and start playing a gloomier style of music. This can
be said for all of the songs held on the album.
The
production is first-rate with Methadone Skies proving what fantastic
musicians they actually are. Different Layers Of Fear is a
beautifully played and highly intelligent album that you rarely hear
these days. Overall, Different Layers Of Fear is one of the best
instrumental rock/metal albums of the year.
Words
by Steve Howe
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