(c) Philippe Wattenhofer
Great music doesn’t need big words, as numerous bands love to prove over and over again. Also Fall Of Leviathan Apart from rare samples, their work is purely instrumental and moves in expansive to monumental post-rock and post-metal realms. The quintet from Switzerland loves the careful musical structure and the catharsis that follows, which goes overboard in force and volume with growing enthusiasm. On their first album „In Waves“ They devote themselves to nautical and mysterious themes, accompanied by delicate beauty and impressive vehemence.
The title song has these qualities in abundance. “In Waves” represents the musical arts of the Swiss. It takes quite a long time for the action to pick up speed, but that somehow fits into the picture. Every now and then the sea appears calm, cautious, almost withdrawn. And then, out of nowhere, dark clouds appear. A storm is coming and causing chaos. The sudden rage, the powerful effervescence, goes through your bones, short and yet so violent. The uncomfortable tension that follows develops into… nothing. Fall Of Leviathan work towards a new explosion that fizzles out – skilfully used high tension of a refreshingly uncomfortable kind.
“Ahkab”, the rough bouncer, shows what can be done with the necessary volume. The controls move to the top, the oversized force creates pressure waves of enormous proportions. A break in the middle, a renewed build-up of tension makes the hairs on the back of your neck rise to the sky and, yes, the Swiss actually up the ante again. Only “Pacific” is even better, which actually lasts 13 minutes without any slack. This is due, among other things, to the renewed subtle work with its raw yet powerful textures. While you feel like you’re on safe post-rock ground, the finale pulls it away from under your feet and even pushes a little into Breach’s realms with its elemental force.
Take a deep breath, throw in a few calming drops, then move on to the next round: “In Waves” crushes and finishes with growing enthusiasm, pushing boundaries and often going far beyond them. The combination of delicate post rock and angry post metal with thunderous intensity requires one attempt or another. But that’s absolutely fine, because there is great quality lurking behind this long work. Fall Of Leviathan likes to take some time to get to the point, which is grueling in the best sense of the word, but that’s actually absolutely fine. Pure post-magic, harsh and as raw as possible, torpedoes all senses at the same time. The Swiss debut exquisitely and at the same time still leave some room for improvement – a fascinating, gripping happening.
Rating: 8/10
Available from: March 1, 2024
Available via: Vitruve Records
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FallOfLeviathan
Slider-Pic (c) Fall Of Leviathan
Category: Magazin, Reviews