Rise To The Sky – Per Aspera Ad Astra
Release Date: 3rd September 2021
Label: GS Productions
Bandcamp
Genre: Atmospheric Doom/Death Metal
FFO: Saturnus, Desire, Clouds, Forest Of Shadows.
Review By: Martha Skourteli
Rise To The Sky is a one man band originating from Santiago, Chile. The creator of the very good Atmospheric Doom/Death metal that the band presents since 2019 is Sergio Gonzáles Catalán who has already released 3 full length albums and 2 EPs. His previous album was only released in March 2021 while Per Aspera Ad Astra will come out on the 3rd of September. The production, mixing, mastering and drum composition is done by Filippos Koliopanos (guitars, On Thorns I Lay) while the artwork is by Augusto Peixoto (IronDoom Design).
Per Aspera Ad Astra was written after Sergio’s father passed away last January. It consists of 8 songs of medium duration, where the combination of a guitar that’s balancing between crying and hoping meets the growls of a soul in pain.
The album title song, Per Aspera Ad Astra, is the hymn of a son to his father. The lyrics are simple and clear, coming out of an aching heart. The music of the song (like all songs in the album) gives you a sense of hope, makes you feel that this is not the end and like the lyrics say “A part of you lives with me”. I can really imagine this song played with an orchestra or the music being used in the soundtrack of a movie.
Each and all songs feel like Sergio was taking out his pain of loss and walking the path of healing at the same time. We have lyrics with pure grief but at the same time the presence, through melodies, of a hidden light that leads to the return to life.
Only Our Past Remains is based on a poem written by his father in 2019. We hear this poem in Spanish (the language it was written in) and some English lyrics are added that just enhance the meaning of the poem which is the reality of life….After death what’s left is the past, the words that still dwell in one’s heart and mind and the memories left behind.
The album closes with the amazing instrumental Horse (written by Ivan Matvienko) which is a cover of a traditional Russian folk song. It has a beautiful strong melody and the way it’s covered gives it a strong boost that enhances its original dynamic.
I’m sure in the near future we’ll get more from this brilliant and inspired artist that really honors the genre Rise To The Sky belongs to.
(5 / 5)
