post-rock
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I can't believe how much the post-rock genre has evolved over the past decade or so. Once it was a genre with a few bands, Explosions In The Sky, Mogwai and Godspeed! You Black Emperor. Very few people could imagine different approaches to the style because it was a slow, instrumental genre, mainly influenced by shoegaze. However, new bands came in and incorporated different elements from cinematic soundscapes to harsh, distorted guitars. Today, post-rock is a widely spread genre which on his turn influences numerous other bands.
We Deserve This is (mainly) a one-man post-rock project from Germany, founded in 2010 by Jan Platek. His version of the genre, is a very heavy one, reminding me of bands like Jesu, Monkey3 or Jakob. 'Pacific' is his latest release and it's a very strong one, a harsh and complex trip through distorted landscapes and lively sequences. My guess is that Platek is influenced by most of the bands I've mentioned in this review already but also has a background in metal.
Opener 'The Moon, The Stars And Everything Else' and title track 'Pacific' somewhat breathe a dark metal-atmosphere while strongly holding on to the typical post-rock songwriting. The tempo is not as slow as most of the songs in this genre but issues a nice drive which make these very enjoyable songs. They could also be fan-favorites on concerts.
Speaking of gigs, I wonder if We Deserve This ever plays live. I can imagine it being a great performance, at times overwhelming and quite epic. If really hope he does because I for one really want to see this. I'm often stunned by the sheer quality of one-man bands but, being a gig-addict, I always wonder about those things.
On 'Pre Caution/Post Action' the tempo goes down a bit. This is one of those typical post-rock anthems that reach perfection. Continuously alternating between gentle soundscapes and heavy, energetic (but slow) passages, this song can stand next to some of my favorites in the genre. '12/13/13' takes that feel even further at first but comes up with similar mid-tempo drums as the first tracks.
I really dig this blatant in-your-face style of post-rock. I love the vigorous guitars and the mid-tempo rhythms that are present in most of the songs. So as far as I'm concerned this is a fantastic album with enough variation to remain interesting and refreshing for the entire duration. On 'I Quit' the sound of the guitars remind me of nineties rock bands, adding an element of melancholia to the whole.
So in all, I'm once again pleasantly surprised by a one-man post-rock band. This time it's one that doesn't go big on cinematic atmosphere but incorporates a crushing sound which still has something intimate and minimal. I'd like to end this review by mentioning that 'The Serious Ending' is my favorite track on this album and another brilliant piece of heavy post-rock. Love it...
Serge
We Deserve This is (mainly) a one-man post-rock project from Germany, founded in 2010 by Jan Platek. His version of the genre, is a very heavy one, reminding me of bands like Jesu, Monkey3 or Jakob. 'Pacific' is his latest release and it's a very strong one, a harsh and complex trip through distorted landscapes and lively sequences. My guess is that Platek is influenced by most of the bands I've mentioned in this review already but also has a background in metal.
Opener 'The Moon, The Stars And Everything Else' and title track 'Pacific' somewhat breathe a dark metal-atmosphere while strongly holding on to the typical post-rock songwriting. The tempo is not as slow as most of the songs in this genre but issues a nice drive which make these very enjoyable songs. They could also be fan-favorites on concerts.
Speaking of gigs, I wonder if We Deserve This ever plays live. I can imagine it being a great performance, at times overwhelming and quite epic. If really hope he does because I for one really want to see this. I'm often stunned by the sheer quality of one-man bands but, being a gig-addict, I always wonder about those things.
On 'Pre Caution/Post Action' the tempo goes down a bit. This is one of those typical post-rock anthems that reach perfection. Continuously alternating between gentle soundscapes and heavy, energetic (but slow) passages, this song can stand next to some of my favorites in the genre. '12/13/13' takes that feel even further at first but comes up with similar mid-tempo drums as the first tracks.
I really dig this blatant in-your-face style of post-rock. I love the vigorous guitars and the mid-tempo rhythms that are present in most of the songs. So as far as I'm concerned this is a fantastic album with enough variation to remain interesting and refreshing for the entire duration. On 'I Quit' the sound of the guitars remind me of nineties rock bands, adding an element of melancholia to the whole.
So in all, I'm once again pleasantly surprised by a one-man post-rock band. This time it's one that doesn't go big on cinematic atmosphere but incorporates a crushing sound which still has something intimate and minimal. I'd like to end this review by mentioning that 'The Serious Ending' is my favorite track on this album and another brilliant piece of heavy post-rock. Love it...
Serge