Codespeaker is a sludge/post-metal band from Scotland, who formed in 2019. “Scavenger” is their second full-length album; they have also released a live album.
According to the band’s press release, the album, “Is an ode to the powerless, a fitting theme for these days.” The album’s music really grasps this theme and runs with it. The whole album permeates with feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and a righteous anger for change. It speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves–and it’s loud as hell in doing so.
Despite the feelings and subject matter, “Scavenger” is a beautifully put together album. The production is bottomless, working in tune with the massive riffs and bass for a sound that fills up my head–listen with a decent pair of headphones and you will become a part of the album. As the sludge part of the band destroys, the post ingredients build. Each song is layered with music that takes multiple listens to explore. Each note, each beat, swirls together in an endless kaleidoscopic of audio meanderings.
“Usud,” is the opening song and it gives an idea as to what lies ahead. Each song does sound different but if you like this one, you’ll find much to explore in the remaining songs. This one builds up with deep, clean tones, before urgent yet suffocating riffs hammer down. The vocals are raw and emotional, somewhere between a shout and a growl. I can feel the band’s frustrations as they rip through the song. It slows down a bit, the album bringing out one of its many moments of clean music that thrives in the liminal spaces it provides. The final half is melancholic and tragic, but still finds time to be a bulldozer when called upon.
“Rescission,” begins more immediately—and it’s crushing, the audio equivalent of an implosion. I love the riffs in this one…they just don’t ever quit. The band becomes one for the first half of the song, blending into a wall of sound. It’s towering, monolithic, huge. Whatever I could say won’t do it justice because this band nails down how to be heavy both musically and emotionally. The action rises until just over the halfway mark where they hit a clean passage that’s just as stark, just in a different way.
The band is just as comfortable in shorter spaces too, as with “Samsa,” which is under four minutes. This is a more straightforward song of course but it’s still densely packed and layered. The second part of the song is one of the more punishing moments on the album and nearly made me dizzy.
The sad, deceptively simple intro to “Karst” pulls back on the never ending heaviness but remains highly engaging. As a huge doom/sludge/post fan, I crave these long intros and slow buildups. As the three minute mark approaches, precision drums carry the notes to heavier waters and by the four minute mark, the band is in full stride as it rains down its fury.
My promo copy ends with “Hiraeth,” which is the final track on their previous album so I assume this is some kind of remaster version or maybe re-recording. “Scavenger” is my first experience with the band so I haven’t heard their previous one to compare.
Regardless, it’s a fitting final song that fully embraces both the light and dark elements of the band’s sound. This one is slower with a doom like tempo and atmosphere. The middle part is unique as hell–I’m not sure if the songs are guitar or keyboard but they are awesome.
Ultimately, Codespeaker has released a truly impressive album with “Scavenger” and it’s definitely made me a fan of the band. If you like metal with depth and emotion (and why wouldn’t you?) then these albums should be on your radar as the year comes to a close.
No comments:
Post a Comment