Below A Silent Sky - Walls Of Light (Album Review)

Release Date: November 03rd 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Walls Of Light - Tracklisting

1.The Center 14:50

2.Sonder 05:30

3.TON 07:35

4.The Light 14:20

Members:

Drums: Christin Gertler

Bass: Diego Walch

Guitar: Christian Schneiderwind

Guitar: Robin Ritter

Review

Walls Of Light is the new album from Instrumental Sludge/Post-Metallers Below A Silent Sky who bring a more destructive and cold hearted style of Psychedelic aggression with steely determination that matches the raw sounding production values of the whole album. Below A Silent Sky starts off with a more pessimistic outlook in the realm of Instrumental Metal which feels inspired partially by Neurosis before ending the album with the uplifting Ambient Post-Rock textures of Post-Metal titans PELICAN.

There’s a level of FUZZ within this album I didn’t expect which allows Below A Silent Sky to become more intense within the early stages of the album, especially within the epic opening track The Center. A song that is aggressively slow-paced with a nuanced Psychedelic sound slowly creeping in with Post-Doom surroundings. Below A Silent Sky plays many different styles of sludgy and sonic based experimentation with a keen reliance on overdubbing that gives this track quite a haunting and original sound of its own. 

Second track Sonder sees Below A Silent Sky having less time to play and experiment with compared to the opening track. This allows the band to strip out the more creative elements of their music and play a direct style of Sludge/Post-Metal with small snippets of Industrial based Post-Rock and Ambient driven FUZZ grooves. The end result is a heavier and more realistic sound with deafening levels of AMPLIFIER HEAVINESS that sees the band play the most muscular sounding parts of the album even when the solitary and almost semi-acoustic guitars appear. There’s a surreal flow to this track with Below A Silent Sky start blending Eastern sonic based flavours with Western sounding Sludgy grooves.

Third track TON has a slightly more Psychedelic Rock theme appearing with small traces of a JAZZY creative flow but still retaining that harsh Post-Metal experimental vibe with a jagged “stop-start” finish being the main way for the band to deliver their music. The instrumental work is impressive yet again with distorted freak-out moments being highly original and quite surreal once again.

The final track of The Light offers the most hopeful and insightful moments of the album with Below A Silent Sky first appearing to continue their instrumental journey to the darker depths of the Post-Metal abyss. The industrial and droned out noises only offer moments of harsh heaviness before the band turn the creative corner and start weaving Ambient Post-Rock solos into the mix. The whole moment of the album is cautiously slow but it’s quite breathtaking to hear which all builds upto an exciting and action-packed finish with the heaviest and intense grooves on the entire record.

Walls Of Light is a refreshingly different and bleak style of Instrumental Sludge/Post-Metal which offers moments of captivating beauty and destructive sonic based heaviness that allows Below A Silentl Sky to deliver their standout album to date.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Below A Silent Sky for the promo.

Walls Of Light is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Below A Silent Sky - A View From Afar (Album Review)

Release date: 11^th March 2018. Label: Self Released. Format: CD/DD

A View From Afar – Tracklisting

1.The Highest Shrine 09:05

2.Caverns of Light 08:51

3.Tartarus 10:28

4.Earthshifter 08:53

5.The Great Divide 18:29

Members

Heinz// Drums

Christian// Guitar

Robin// Guitar

Diego// Bass

Review

Atmospheric Post-Doom Rockers - Below A Silent Sky - new album, A View From Afar - is a complex sounding record that takes elements of Doom, Post-Rock, Post-Metal, Psych and heavy Sludge vibes for an unflinching approach to Post-Rock/Post-Metal music.

The album is purely instrumental and will no doubt appeal to fans of Pelican, Long Distance Calling and Russian Circles. Those bands are perhaps the most well-known bands within the Instrumental Post-Rock/Post-Metal world and Below A Silent Sky may cite these bands as major influences. As this album has an eerie familiarity to it. That's not a bad thing to follow.

As at least you have a starting point what to expect from this album. It's only after listening to the full record you recognise there a lot more to their music. Below A Silent Sky are way more aggressive with their music and they create a fine amount of heavy progressive noises that will impress the most jaded of Post-Rock/Post-Metal fans.

The opening track - The Highest Shrine - does a superb job of showcasing the bands talent of playing intricate and intelligent Post-Rock/Post-Metal progressive passages. Whilst maintaining an air of melody despite the lengthy running time.

Second track - Caverns Of Light - is a heavier offering with a "YOB" Doom/Sludge style sonic riff appearing here and there. Though the band add a few Post-Rock interludes that change the mood to a more positive approach. The music is still heavy with the progressive sounds and noises being played at a leisurely pace. Below A Silent Sky never forget their Sludge/Post-Metal roots and they slowly start adding heavier elements to their music. The instrumental work is impressive indeed especially the drums. Heinz builds up an almighty rhythm for his fellow band members to play their guitars against.

It's been a while since I've listened to a truly wonderful sounding instrumental Post-Rock/Post-Metal album and I'm glad this album has come along as I've been feeling slightly jaded by the scene recently.

Below A Silent Sky carries on the soaring progressive melodies on the other three songs on the album. Tartarus, Earthshifter and The Great Divide all equally proving A View From Afar is an exquisite sounding album. My favourite parts of the album are where the band decides to throw caution to the wind and experiment with their sound. Either by adding Psychedelic Noises or Ambient Post-Rock cinematic passages.

The standout track for me has to be the excellent third track - Tartarus. As this song shows what Below A Silent Sky do so well. Creating soulful grooves before exploding into a loud vortex of sound. The drone/post-rock style is a stark contrast to the later stages of the song. As the whole mood of the album becomes dark and very violent in places.

The production is another highlight with the sound being loud and dynamic from the start. A View From Afar is a thrilling and brilliantly entertaining album and is essential listening if you're a fan of Post-Rock/Post-Metal music.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp