- Apr 17, 2008
- 52
- 0
- 6
Portugals Crushing Sun comes tagged as death-metal, yet exterior signs suggest that Im not before a standard death-metal group. Theres no blasphemous title or a disgustingly repulsive album cover here, those typical attributes that almost everyone within the genre uses to gain credibility and a bad-ass image.
Naming your album Tao, which is a Chinese word based on a fundamental principle of Taoism that roughly means the road or path, and choosing a surrealist cover art that couldve been drawn by someone like Salvador Dali are clear indicators that Crushing Sun have opted not to follow the overbeaten death-metal path.
Indeed, Tao is everything but a run-of-the-mill blast and growl, tremolo picked death-metal record, and thats precisely one of the more refreshing things about it, the Portuguese act have gone against the grain, incorporating other nuances and textures into their song-writing, yet still maintaining the punch and razor-sharp delivery of archetypical death-metal.
There are moments amongst these eleven songs that remind me of a more organic and claustrophobic Gojira, as both bands dedicate themselves to write thoughtful and challenging music that still sounds oppressive and fearful.
Each song on the album is great, theres zero filler and a few are even spectacular. Rain for instance erupts with a gargantuan force and a tremendous groove thats capable of making the foundations of a solid building tremble. Cantilever is more of the same, balancing lethargic and dissonant chords with a palm muted crushing groove and pounding drums. Its on the third theme The End, which spans for almost seven minutes that Crushing Sun take a surprising turn into the textural and absorbing universe of Neurosis, it starts with acoustic guitars in a gentle manner then abruptly develops into a dynamic wall of sound hovering between slow, crushing riffs and calmer, contemplative ambiences. Janes Trail is another excursion into the dark depths of Neurosis post-metal, boasting a remarkable dichotomy between crushing tones and soothing harmonies. Thatcher is up next with a relentless fury that sends us back into a Gojira-styled framework.
Overall, although Tao requires repeated listens to fully unravel and appreciate, its a good, honest and cerebral first album from a band evidently capable of becoming one of most interesting musical propositions this old continent has to offer. (8/10)
Band info: www.myspace.com/crushingsun
Label info: www.majorlabelindustries.com
For fans of: Gojira, Neurosis, Hacride, Morbid Angel
http://www.scratchthesurface-webzine.blogspot.com
Were looking for contributors to help us out with reviews and interviews. Theres no pay but well give you free albums, free entrances to concerts and the chance to interview your favourite artists face to face.
If you have an interest in music and journalism, please don't hesitate to drop us a line and let us know. We could use your input!
Send your thoughts and questions to scratchthesurface.webzine(at)gmail.com with the subject line contributor.
Naming your album Tao, which is a Chinese word based on a fundamental principle of Taoism that roughly means the road or path, and choosing a surrealist cover art that couldve been drawn by someone like Salvador Dali are clear indicators that Crushing Sun have opted not to follow the overbeaten death-metal path.
Indeed, Tao is everything but a run-of-the-mill blast and growl, tremolo picked death-metal record, and thats precisely one of the more refreshing things about it, the Portuguese act have gone against the grain, incorporating other nuances and textures into their song-writing, yet still maintaining the punch and razor-sharp delivery of archetypical death-metal.
There are moments amongst these eleven songs that remind me of a more organic and claustrophobic Gojira, as both bands dedicate themselves to write thoughtful and challenging music that still sounds oppressive and fearful.
Each song on the album is great, theres zero filler and a few are even spectacular. Rain for instance erupts with a gargantuan force and a tremendous groove thats capable of making the foundations of a solid building tremble. Cantilever is more of the same, balancing lethargic and dissonant chords with a palm muted crushing groove and pounding drums. Its on the third theme The End, which spans for almost seven minutes that Crushing Sun take a surprising turn into the textural and absorbing universe of Neurosis, it starts with acoustic guitars in a gentle manner then abruptly develops into a dynamic wall of sound hovering between slow, crushing riffs and calmer, contemplative ambiences. Janes Trail is another excursion into the dark depths of Neurosis post-metal, boasting a remarkable dichotomy between crushing tones and soothing harmonies. Thatcher is up next with a relentless fury that sends us back into a Gojira-styled framework.
Overall, although Tao requires repeated listens to fully unravel and appreciate, its a good, honest and cerebral first album from a band evidently capable of becoming one of most interesting musical propositions this old continent has to offer. (8/10)
Band info: www.myspace.com/crushingsun
Label info: www.majorlabelindustries.com
For fans of: Gojira, Neurosis, Hacride, Morbid Angel
http://www.scratchthesurface-webzine.blogspot.com
Were looking for contributors to help us out with reviews and interviews. Theres no pay but well give you free albums, free entrances to concerts and the chance to interview your favourite artists face to face.
If you have an interest in music and journalism, please don't hesitate to drop us a line and let us know. We could use your input!
Send your thoughts and questions to scratchthesurface.webzine(at)gmail.com with the subject line contributor.