black metal / post-rock
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No way, this cannot be a one-man project. I refuse to believe that one person can be this talented. Now, I know that there are people who will never find the genius in black metal, 'because it's all Satan worshiping noise' to them, but as for now, those people can definitely sod-off. I mean, this is a debut and it's already one of the most promising albums in the blackened scene this year.
Sorrow Plagues is British musician David Lovejoy. He started this project in 2014 and released a few ep's and singles. I never heard them, but I guess I will soon. However, I doubt that they're better than this awesome debut. In fact, perhaps those releases were mere learning processes, heading towards this album. Black metal, post-rock, shoegaze, modern classical and downtempo electronics, it's all here.
The album opens in hyperspeed with the fierce, blast-beats driven 'Fade'. At this point I would place this act in the region of Alcest or Landlôs but still I'm not sure if that's very correct. Most of the music incorporates elaborate keyboard passages, reminding me also of Summoning or Drudkh for example. And still Lovejoy doesn't stop there. On 'Aspirations' he goes all out with his influences, including immersive post-rock and even neo-classical piano and strings.
I know I also mentioned 'downtempo electronics', but don't think that they turn the whole into a blackened version of Boards Of Canada. Although, that would be an interesting combination. Fact is, Sorrow Plagues isn't weary of electronics if they sever the overall purpose and improve the sound of the music. On 'Awaken', these electronics add a lot of eerie atmosphere to the whole. Halfway through the song, A Swarm Of The Sun even comes to mind.
Those were just three of six impressive songs, and I can assure you that the other three are just as brilliant and awe-inspiring as those. In fact, perhaps 'Twilight' is my favorite but that's a hard decision to make since the whole definitely feels like a concept album where some of my all-time favorite genres seamlessly blend together into a massive frenzy of musical delight. This Lovejoy guy certainly is a talented human being...
Serge
Sorrow Plagues is British musician David Lovejoy. He started this project in 2014 and released a few ep's and singles. I never heard them, but I guess I will soon. However, I doubt that they're better than this awesome debut. In fact, perhaps those releases were mere learning processes, heading towards this album. Black metal, post-rock, shoegaze, modern classical and downtempo electronics, it's all here.
The album opens in hyperspeed with the fierce, blast-beats driven 'Fade'. At this point I would place this act in the region of Alcest or Landlôs but still I'm not sure if that's very correct. Most of the music incorporates elaborate keyboard passages, reminding me also of Summoning or Drudkh for example. And still Lovejoy doesn't stop there. On 'Aspirations' he goes all out with his influences, including immersive post-rock and even neo-classical piano and strings.
I know I also mentioned 'downtempo electronics', but don't think that they turn the whole into a blackened version of Boards Of Canada. Although, that would be an interesting combination. Fact is, Sorrow Plagues isn't weary of electronics if they sever the overall purpose and improve the sound of the music. On 'Awaken', these electronics add a lot of eerie atmosphere to the whole. Halfway through the song, A Swarm Of The Sun even comes to mind.
Those were just three of six impressive songs, and I can assure you that the other three are just as brilliant and awe-inspiring as those. In fact, perhaps 'Twilight' is my favorite but that's a hard decision to make since the whole definitely feels like a concept album where some of my all-time favorite genres seamlessly blend together into a massive frenzy of musical delight. This Lovejoy guy certainly is a talented human being...
Serge