post-rock / post-metal
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Before I founded this webzine, I had no idea that there were such things as one-man post-rock bands. Drone, ambient, EDM, noise to even black metal bands with only one members, that was something normal but I always thought more people would be needed to create the magic the post-rock can be. I was wrong and I'm actually happy that I've been proven wrong by some talented artists like Mesozoic and Ministry Of Truth. This week, another one of those acts reached my inbox and once again, it's a very decent album.
Kubrick hails from the Philippines and that's about all I know about the project. So we'll need to focus solely on the music, which is a heavy approach to atmospheric post-rock, or post-metal if you will. Long, instrumental tracks (and an dark ambient / drone intro), loaded with distorted guitars, haunted melodies and hammering drums create something quite intense. In fact, this is a lot heavier than the one-man bands I named earlier in this review.
Yet, it takes a while before the bombast kicks in. The album opens with a number of drones, which at some point made me wonder why it was described as a post-rock album. The first few minutes I was listening to some decent dark ambient. But then come the guitars, at first hesitant but shortly after in full blast, accompanied with intense drums. 'Without Ever Opening Our Mouths' even seems to incorporate a black metal influences passage but possibly this is due to the production quality of the album.
Not that this is badly produced, but it does sound a bit like a basement or bedroom recording. However, it adds a lot to the overall experimental feel of the whole, especially in some of the noisy soundscapes which are present here and there. Kubrick doesn't seem to care about sounding radio friendly or easy digestible. In stead he wants to show his talent to the world, and that talent is making amazing music. Music that's not just inspired by post-rock bands but seemingly also by black and industrial metal.
But, just like with the previous solo-acts, I'm hungry for a live performance by Kubrick. I know, I'm a concert person and I almost always feel that the stage is the best place for music like this. This might never happen and that's quite unfortunate judging from the intensity and atmosphere of the music. Yet, I will recommend checking out this album, it's worth the time and effort.
Serge
Kubrick hails from the Philippines and that's about all I know about the project. So we'll need to focus solely on the music, which is a heavy approach to atmospheric post-rock, or post-metal if you will. Long, instrumental tracks (and an dark ambient / drone intro), loaded with distorted guitars, haunted melodies and hammering drums create something quite intense. In fact, this is a lot heavier than the one-man bands I named earlier in this review.
Yet, it takes a while before the bombast kicks in. The album opens with a number of drones, which at some point made me wonder why it was described as a post-rock album. The first few minutes I was listening to some decent dark ambient. But then come the guitars, at first hesitant but shortly after in full blast, accompanied with intense drums. 'Without Ever Opening Our Mouths' even seems to incorporate a black metal influences passage but possibly this is due to the production quality of the album.
Not that this is badly produced, but it does sound a bit like a basement or bedroom recording. However, it adds a lot to the overall experimental feel of the whole, especially in some of the noisy soundscapes which are present here and there. Kubrick doesn't seem to care about sounding radio friendly or easy digestible. In stead he wants to show his talent to the world, and that talent is making amazing music. Music that's not just inspired by post-rock bands but seemingly also by black and industrial metal.
But, just like with the previous solo-acts, I'm hungry for a live performance by Kubrick. I know, I'm a concert person and I almost always feel that the stage is the best place for music like this. This might never happen and that's quite unfortunate judging from the intensity and atmosphere of the music. Yet, I will recommend checking out this album, it's worth the time and effort.
Serge
