HEGEMONE - Luminosity (Self financed CD 2014)
Maybe I am not the biggest and
most fanatical fan of post metal in general, but I do admit to like this style,
to like that sound and exceptionally good atmosphere of such music. There are
some bands like Russian Circles, Pelican, Isis, Long Distance Calling,
Fleshworld and some more, which I just can listen to all day long. And there
are obviously also quite few outstanding black metal bands, which combine the
post metal playing and mood with black metal characteristics – something I also
like a lot also and find so special. So, I am not a stranger to this whole
style and I am also not someone who feels disgust for the more progressive side
of this music – and I write that as I know that there are some die hard
antagonists to such progressive side of the extreme. Which is not my headache
and problem. But I got immediately interested in Polish band called Hegemone,
when they contacted me to review their debut album “Luminosity”. So, I spent
last six or seven days on listening to this CD and I must admit it was a great
pleasure and a very good experience.
I think that “Luminosity” is
not an album, which will bore you, as there are so many surprises, so many
specials in every song… Sure, the whole thing is mainly about building the
atmosphere, the proper feeling, with great, well built song structures, long
instrumental passages, etc, but it’s also properly aggressive and even harsh in
some moments, so I think it’s not an album for post (black) metal fanatics exclusively
and maybe more people will be able to find something interesting in it. Which I
hope will turn this way and provide Hegemone a lot of attention - with “Luminosity”
they certainly deserve it! Anyway, as mentioned before, I see this album as
some truly worthy and impressive piece. Ever since the first listen, Hegemone caught
my attention and I have listened to the whole album many times now, every time
with a great interest.
As mentioned before, one of
the main characteristics of “Luminosity” is its great diversity and the careful
setting up of the atmosphere. Take the first two songs now; “Diurnal” opens the
album in quite harsh way and it is a very good opener indeed. The tempo is
rather slow, the riffs seem to crawl in the murky surrounding; stylistically it
is very close to some post black metal bands, so I have been hooked
immediately. But then there’s really outstanding piece titled “The Hunt
Within”, which is over seven minutes long instrumental track, filled with
killer post metal riffing (which actually seems to be quite simple and almost
monotonous, but not in negative meaning of this word, but rather as
mesmerizing), which build the tension perfectly… and the real highlight of the
song is use of the saxophone, which adds something truly sick and twisted to it.
But damn, I like it a lot. This is one of the main reasons, why I like this
whole style of extreme music… sometimes you don’t even need the vocals, if the
riffs speak for themselves and generate almost sort of hypnotizing mood. And
that is exactly the case of “Luminosity” and this instrumental song especially.
But of course there are even more truly great parts and surprises on the album.
“Away From the Sun” for that case begins with slow, atmospheric part only to be
surpassed by a fast, almost classic black metal riff! Maybe some listeners will
say that blasting part can destroy the atmosphere of the music, but I don’t
think so and definitely “Away From the Sun” is one of my personal favourites on
the album. But even more I like “Lowborn” – what a great combination of heavy
riff and melancholy, with some gloomy sounds of keyboard. Finally the album is
summarized by “XXXIX”, which is also the longest track (with over 12 minutes on
the clock!) and also the most epic, I suppose – just listen to how it is built,
especially in the beginning.
I am not saying that
“Luminosity” is a perfect album, as there can always be some better songs,
better arrangements… maybe Hegemone can concentrate even more on the long,
instrumental parts, maybe they can add some clean vocals… who knows what plans
the band have for the future. But I know one thing – “Luminosity” is damn solid
and good debut CD. I am very pleased with it, I have enjoyed it totally, so my
sincere congrats to the band for releasing such a good debut. I definitely will
recommend Hegemone to all and will keep my eyes open on the future of this
band!
Standout tracks: “Diurnal”,
“The Hunt Within”, “Lowborn”
Final rate: 80/100
No comments:
Post a Comment