Inner Landscape - 3H33 - Metal Epidemic

Inner Landscape – 3H33
Release Date: 17th May 2023
Label: Klonosphere Records / Season of Mist
Bandcamp
Genre: Post-Metal
FFO: The Ocean, Intronaut, Cult Of Luna, Rosetta.
Review By: Mark Young

May continues with another strong release, courtesy of Inner Landscape, with their debut release, 3H33. It’s quite a thoughtful collection, which doesn’t shy away from giving you thick riffing, blended with a unique way of phrasing that comes together satisfyingly. It isn’t a skull crusher by any means, but there is that definite heavy undertone to it in the way that they put the songs together. The Order of Things has this wonderful flow to it from the initial distortion through to the quieter moments, with the one constant being Gatchet Julien’s vocal delivery staying in that abrasive zone to give it that required aggressive feel. The way it moves through each measure, evolving as the song progresses to its end. Collective Dissonance starts in much the same way, the interplay between light and dark guitar work combining with some exemplary drumming makes it interesting as well as absorbing. They realise that they don’t need huge amounts of gain to make it heavy, just all the key parts working together perfectly.

Old Ghosts, with a lighter feel, evokes sensations in stepping out into the sunshine after a long night. That intelligent arrangement, knowing how to put a song together comes through here. I’ve mentioned how the songs evolve, and here it is a stormer. The first three minutes could have been a song on its own, such is the way the following section comes in with an almost different build. It’s darker but still striking and progressive. Unexpected Fall has this super thick bass dominating, bringing with it a heavier approach, whilst Wreckage is 52 seconds of controlled demolition.

Album closer is 3H33 and does an excellent job of wrapping all of the ideas and focusing it, bringing in discordant riffs, and that top-class drumming that has been present all the way through. The guitar parts are royal, married so effectively with the bass that it’s a fantastic sound. It’s a great closing piece, for an album where each song has so many ideas, and they all hit so well. It’s one of those albums that you will be able to easily revisit, but is best consumed in one sitting to appreciate just how well it sounds and has been put together. It’s a triumphant debut.