Glassing – From The Other Side Of The Mirror
Release Date: 26th April 2024
Label: Pelagic Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Post-Metal, Black Metal, Blackgaze, Post-Rock, Experimental.
FFO: Møl, This Will Destroy You, Deafheaven, Phantom Winter.
Review By: John Newlands
Ladies and germs of the internet, Glassing are back with their highly anticipated fourth LP, From The Other Side Of The Mirror. The Texan trio have newly signed to Pelagic Records, and I’ll tell you from the get-go, their latest offering does not disappoint.
I first got into Glassing somewhere around 2019 after reading an interview with This Will Destroy You that highly recommended that the reader checked out Glassing. After this, I became slightly obsessed with Spotted Horse, the bands sophomore release. Skipping forward to 2024, it’s impressive how much the band has evolved from the days of Spotted Horse. Production has stepped up a notch (or three) and the looming atmospheric passages, dense textural post-metal like dreamy vibes have given way to a much more refined and direct black-gaze sound and post-hardcore screams have evolved into black-metal shrieks, soft sang passages and flourishes of impressive guttural vocals.
From The Other Side Of The Mirror opens with the oppressive Anything You Want, which has a hypnotizing, pulsing like quality in the verse and a somewhat “catchy” chorus. From here we move into the 1,2 punch of lead singles Nothing Touches You, which opens with a dreamy atmospheric washy section which gives way to a black metal tinged mælstrom and Defacer, which really is an out-and-out banger.
Sallow, gives us some respite from the intense opening section of the album, it is an oppressive instrumental number that has a sense of foreboding and urgency before moving onto the next section of the album.
Nominal Will and Ritualist flow into As My Heart Rots. This is the shortest cut on the album and is an intense whirlwind of double bass-drum and tremolo picking on the guitar which feel like it is the band fully let loose and on the offensive, unhinged, yet completely in control. After this swift sonic kick in the nuts, we move on to Circle Down, the most recent single, which offers more dominant guttural vocals, which offers the listener a different textual pallet and keeps us engaged.
The Kestral Goes, is another atmospheric instrumental offering that provides calm and peace to the listener before dives into the fantastic album closer, Wake.
Going back to production once more, From The Other Side Of The Mirror sounds absolutely HUGE, especially considering this is a trio. There is a lot going on in the mix and despite being huge sounding, there is still a clarity and space. Glassing are experts at playing with texture and space, for example, letting notes ring out to fill a space, essentially holding back while the guitar, bass or the drums are filling out sections. This really is a testament to the bands writing skills and ability to provide what will ultimately get the best out of the song.
It would be easy to throw Glassing onto the pile of blackgaze bands out there, but this would be a fool’s errand & I beg of you not to do this. Glassing are so much more, and they seem to be getting better and better with every release. Stick on a good pair of headphones and enjoy, this one totally rips!!
April 2024 has been a month crowded with top tier releases, and From The Other Side Of The Mirror sits up there with the best of them. Definite contender for my top 10 of 2024.
(4.5 / 5)
