Light Is A Barrier - Tracklisting
Broken Spire
Anathema
Half Light
Forest Of Spears
Highborn
Members
Steve Smith - Drums
George Lusito - Bass
Jenny Jordan - Vocals
Sam Waters - Guitar/Vocals
Cru Jordan Jones - Guitar/Vocals
Review
Pyreship return with their first new album in five years with Light Is A Barrier and it's quite different to their debut album. Firstly, the band has added a new member since then with Jenny Jordan being added as second main vocalist. The grungy aspect heard on their last album is still here but it's mostly in the distance with Pyreship playing a more emotional Doom, Sludge and Post-Metal sound. Jenny's vocals are quite nuanced when they first appear but they do become heavier and Jenny can sure "SCREAM" with the best of them.
The five songs on the album are quite different to each other and Pyreship do draw influence from bands such as Pelican, Ken Mode, Neurosis and Kowloon Walled City but remaining true to their own creative themes and beliefs. Heavy sludgy guitars collide with Psychedelic tendencies with echoes of Post-Rock and Noise Rock for a more realistic sound.
Opening song Broken Spire is a dazzling mix of different sounds whilst being quite true to life. The music is slowly played and when the faster riffs appear Jenny's vocals SOAR above the heavy grooves that become one of the best parts of the album. However, the other vocals from Sam and Cru are excellent as well. The post-metallic sensibility of the song remains true throughout this album.
The songs are quite progressive and have a "real life" feel to them though Pyreship did this superbly well on their debut album. The industrial flow of the album truly comes into focus on the songs Anathema and Half Light though still merging Post-Doom and Sludge Metal sensibilities that can be quite distorted at times. The music can be cold and calculating but Pyreship levels things off with uplifting moments of Post-Metal brilliance.
The standout tracks on the album for me are the final two tracks of Forest Of Spears and Highborn with Pyreship excelling the most on these tracks. Post-Metal and Gloomy Psychedelic sounds bring a fine style of Dark Progressive Rock/Metal with Pyreship still keeping to the uplifting momentum of the album's earlier tracks.
Adding Jenny as a new member to the band was an inspired choice. and she's the real "heart & soul" on the early stages of this album. However, Light Is A Barrier is a true team effort with everyone putting in wonderful performances on this album.
The album may have been a long time coming but if you want to hear a Doom Metal/Post-Metal album with real emotional depth then Pyreship have delivered the goods with this release.
Light Is A Barrier is a must-have album. So add this to your collection as soon as you can. You won't be sorry.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to C Squared Music for the promo. Light Is A Barrier will be available to buy on DD from April 22nd 2022.
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