Planks name it 'gloom core', which is also a pretty good description of the music I'm listening to right now. This German trio from Germany has been around since 2007 and recorded several albums, e.p.'s and singles already. 'Perished Bodies' is their newest milestone, a mesmerizing piece of post-metal, combining everything from doom over post-rock, hardcore and sludge to black metal and shoegaze. Unfortunately it's also their final album.
Needless to say that this album 'rocks' like there's no tomorrow. In fact, 'The Sacrifist Pt. I (Through Dirge And Death)' immediately comes up with the crushing brutality, the slowed down hardcore riffs and the fierce vocals. No need for intros here, although the band regularly take a step back. Every song has intense, distorted passages and calm, instrumental breathers. The latter are brilliant by the way. It's those who reminded me of both Tiamat and The Cure.
'Nothing Will Ever Change' shows more of the post-rock related atmospheric music Planks creates. Here clean vocals, hidden beneath several layers of guitars and bass, add an extra amount of variation to the whole. But don't get me wrong, the majority of this album is still as crushing as the works of Yob, Conan or Pallbearer. When Planks unload the wall-of-sound, as in 'Into Lifeless Embrace', it becomes hypnotic, almost trance inducing and definitely intense enough to keep the listener in it's grasp.
Within the first three tracks already, Planks shows a lot of talent, both musically and as far at songwriting is concerned. The amount of variation is excellent, even to the extend of fericious blast-beats driven passages on occasion and female vocals by 'Leonie Marie Löllmann' (from hardcore/grind band Svffer) in the groovy shoegazer 'She Is Alone'. The overal atmosphere is dark, eerie and impending and often comes up with a massive apotheosis.
So, if you're into post-metal and sludge, this definitely is something to check out. The stunning 'Perished Bodies' song alone is worth the effort and money if you ask me. If there's any song on this gem that convinced me about the qualities, it's this one. It's as if Tiamat and The Cure are jamming in Satyricon's basement, most of the album is. Closer 'The Sacrifist, Pt. II (What Does Walking Away)' actually makes me a bit sad that this ride is over...
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