Gozer – An Endless Static
Release Date: 17th June 2022
Label: Trepanation Recordings
Bandcamp
Genre: Post-Metal, Sludge.
FFO: Neurosis, Cult of Luna, Amenra.
Review By: Rory Bentley
Summer is nearly upon us and what better way for the more misanthropic amongst us to drown out the irritating buzz of family barbecues and Radio 1 obnoxiously blasting from nearby gardens than a gargantuan slab of oppressive, sludgy Post-Metal from the fine city of Sheffield?
An Endless Static is a record of rising tension, subtle minimalism and roaring anguish all rolled into one harrowing package, and I’m pleased to say it is a very accomplished debut for Gozer. Beginning with the sparse, ominous intro of Into the Grey, the distant bellows of razor throated vocals instantly recall the existential nightmare of Neurosis at their savage peak. After an almost unbearable tightening of the screw, the song erupts into a melodic yet no less savage crescendo that has the primal, earthy feel of the last few Cult of Luna records, balancing primitive rage with celestial elegance. After that initial peak, the band brings the tempo right down again as sparse chords and textures lap your ears like waves in the aftermath of a tsunami. When the devastating sludge riff attack rears its head once more to close things out, it leaves a much bigger bruise, juxtaposed as it is against the eerie calm that precedes it.
Auger is a slightly different beast, bringing lilting Eastern melodies and synths together to create a more otherworldly feel. It may be easier on the ear, but it drips with tension and there are riffs that conjure the image of ancient demons rising from pyramids to wreak havoc. Those that prefer Amenra’s more shamanic, ritualistic approach to Post-Metal will get a lot out of this one.
One aspect that many imitators of the likes of Isis struggle to capture is the hypnotic aspect this music contains when executed correctly. This is something that almost can’t be taught so much as felt. The production here does a fantastic job of capturing the chemistry of the band and has a raw feel that allows them to lock in with each other and move as one organic whole. Rather than being beholden to click tracks and grids, this earthy and often minimalist approach to recording allows songs like single A Fading Light to entrance the listener in all its wonky, textural glory.
The importance of Gozer’s rhythm section cannot be overstated to the success of the record. The sparse picked notes on Desiderium would seem too slight and frail to carry the song were it not for the way the bass and drums lock together in tribal combat to fill out the sound. They even adopt an almost bluesy swing in final cut Wintercearig, with lovely nuanced cymbal work helping to build to a section of crunching doom riffs. By the time the track reaches its crescendo, my heart is pounding like I’ve been dancing frantically round a fire in some ancient war ritual.
Despite wearing their influences heavily on their sleeves, Gozer have still managed to craft a compelling, often unsettling debut that has flashes of unique flair scattered throughout. Although this is a debut, the band have demonstrated a firm grasp of the nuances of writing great Sludge and Post-Metal, if they can build on this and start adding more of their own unique ingredients to the mix we could be talking about them in the same breath as the genre’s heavy-hitters. Delightfully harrowing.
(4 / 5)
