I tend to rant a lot about genre classification (see: anything I’ve ever written) and how needless it is most of the time. Thus, when I saw that Sheffield’s inFictions classified themselves as ‘post-progressive’ I got a little worried about the content of their debut release.
It’s the ‘post-‘ prefix, the seemingly ever-present grammatical parasite that plagues almost all of my favourite music. Needless to say, I approached ‘Maps of Revenge and Forgiveness’ with extreme caution, but (happily) found myself thoroughly impressed.
From the beginning the listener is kept guessing, with album opener ‘This Road Leads To The Village Of Informers’ starting like a lion and ending like a lamb. The intricacies of this band are apparent instantly, bridging the right amount of heaviness with a closing reverie that perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the record.
This is a long player chock full of intrigue and depth, swooping between colossal sonic explorations, soft, eerie sections and some genuinely uplifting riffage. Theatrics aren’t amiss here either, with the expansive vocal style of Ed Cartledge delivering some truly creepy moments.
We’re treated to a huge range of styles at times, one minute we’re in a standard indie album, while the next we’ve been transported to a late 90s Candlemass gig (see the end section of ‘The Silence of the Sea’), having reached our destination through indie, post(grrr)-rock and even some gypsy folk stylings.
There are also nods towards bands like Oceansize throughout, especially in The Cell, however there is so much more here, including some blatant Mogwai/Aereogramme influence in the wonderful ‘1st Intersection’, playing on the quiet/loud format with a slightly more melodic touch.
Despite these comparisons, it’s hard to really fit this band into a niche; they borrow from so many different styles in so many clever ways that classification is impossible.
InFictions have crafted 11 songs that will intrigue and mesmerize, and like every great album, it gets better with repeat listens. It really does have everything. With my worries dispelled and my headphones on, I’m truly hooked to this band and this record and I’m sure you will be to.
So I hereby take my hat off to them for being suitably vague in their ‘post-progressive’ tag. Don’t worry lads; I don’t know what genre you are either!
Available now from In-Fictions.co.uk
Posted by Eoin Boylan
