REZN – Solace
Release Date: 8th March 2023
Label: Self-Released
Bandcamp
Genre: Heavy Psych, Stoner Doom, Drone, Shoegaze, Sludge.
FFO: Elephant Tree, Spaceslug, Alice in Chains.
Review By: Kara Ketchum
A cult following like the one garnered by REZN is one that’s earned, not given. As such, Solace is the result of a natural progression of maturity and refinement in the heavy psych space. An incredible entry to REZN’s already impressive body of work, their fourth album is bound to make a fan of anyone on the fence about the genre, but can easily steal the hearts of seasoned listeners as well.
The opening song on Solace is titled “Allured by Feverish Visions” and I couldn’t think of a more apt name. With a slow crawl into the depths, the song wraps you in a steady ambiance featuring soothing strings and a smattering of woodwinds. With the flourish at the end, you’re pulled out of whatever comfortable slumber you found yourself in, and are transferred into a cosmic ethereality.
It contrasts nicely with the second track, “Possession.” Slightly more upbeat, and now with vocals, we get to shake the moss off our bones. With these dynamic tracks, the end is never like the beginning. As such, the song becomes heavy in a Sisyphean way, piling on the heavy until the day starts again. Day, in this case, is track three “Reversal.” With my favorite vocal performance on the album, the haunting droning of Rob McWilliams’ croons layered on the psychedelic synths is almost hypnotic.
The grunge comes out in full force on the fourth track, “Stasis.” A bit more melodic, and a bit more bouncy, it’s the sharp tip of the monolith. Channeling some Dirt-era Alice in Chains, this seeping into other genres is a positive change of pace. The song fades on a transfixing synth before handing things off to “Faded and Fleeting.” With a spacey, rich saxophone interlude, this song is what truly drives the wedge between same-old-same-old and innovation. The album then closes out with “Webbed Roots.” With more creative synth, something that sounds like lasers, and an evocative spoken word reading from Marie Davidson, it’s the perfect way to softly bring the listener back to reality.
I could never ask an artist for more than they’ve given when they’ve given their all, but my only complaint with the album is that I wish I had more. I could wrap myself in the sonic apex performance of Solace and never emerge.
(4.5 / 5)
