Release
date: June
26th
2020. Label: Argonauta
Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl
Towards
Nothingness –
Tracklisting
1.It
Burns 04:20
2.Theiaphobic
Ansia 01:49
3.Cursed
With Embodiment 04:59
4.
SN1987A Space Alteration Machine 09:21
5.Grey
Haze 05:25
6.ʻOumuamua
01:37
7.Catacomb
Eyes 06:36
8.Towards
Nothingness 02:06
Members
Jörn: bass
Mike: drums
Lambo: synth/samples/guitar
Review
Towards
Nothingness is the debut full length album from Psychedelic Sludge
Metallers – Lares – and it’s an interesting mix of different
styles such as Sludge, Doom, Stoner, Post-Metal with almost
Apocalyptic Psychedelic themes. The band remind myself of ISIS (The
Band) with their style of LOUD vs QUIET dynamics with their overall
themes and ideas with a distorted Post-Metal groove being heard
within literally the first few moments of the album.
The
album opens with It Burns and it’s a ferocious number with Lares
playing a demented style of Sludge/Post-Metal with a lot of sonic
experimentation being added for a more trippy effect. The vocals are
quite harsh and take some time to fully get used to. Though, it’s
the music that’s the real winner here with Lares showing a real
flair and talent at creating highly realistic sci-fi based sounds and
grooves to keep the listener fully involved with the music.
Second song – Theiaphobic Ansia – is a distorted Post-Rock number that only lasts under two minutes and is full of different glitch based sounds with a slight electronic feel.
Third
song – Cursed With Embodiment – is full-on Sludge/Doom/Post-Metal
song with Lares applying a more realistic and harsh sounding vibe to
the song. The song is slightly distorted and feels claustrophobic in
places but the music is excellent with Lares applying a more gloomier
feel. The vocals remain in the Death based growl arena but still feel
oddly satisfying as a result. The music isn’t as fast-paced
compared to the opening song but it does allow Lares to play a more
soulful style of music than you would initially expect.
Fourth
song – SN1987A Space Alteration Machine – is where the band start
to fully deliver their own hypnotic blend of Sludge/Post-Metal with
perhaps the standout song on the album. This song is about the “SN
1987A was a type II supernova in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf
galaxy satellite of the Milky Way” (Thank You Wikipedia). This
song is perhaps the most COSMIC and SPACED-OUT offering on the album
with Lares adding even more Progressive themes to the record and the
gloomy atmosphere allows Lares to play some epic Post-Doom based
riffs.
Lares
carry on their “Space Metal” grooves and ideas for the remainder
of the album with the band playing even more hard-hitting
Psychedelic riffs on songs such as Grey Haze and Catacomb Eyes with
that song being another one of the standout songs held on the album.
Towards
Nothingness does have some moments of Blackened Doom/Sludge Metal but
it’s the lighter Post-Rock/Post-Metal parts of the album that
allows this album to truly standout from the crowd. Lares have
released an outstanding debut album and if you’re in the mood for a
more cosmic version of ISIS (The Band) and NEUROSIS then Lares is the
place to be.
Excellent
and Highly Recommended.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Mona at All Noir PR.
Towards Nothingness is
available to buy now
on CD/DD from
Argonauta Records
Links:
