By: Daniela Patrizi
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Released on September 15, 2014 via Bandcamp
Listening to Ireland’s Ilenkus is almost as fun as writing about them is challenging. How do you even begin describing a band that combines progressive post-metal, post metal, metal, and hardcore into a mind-blowing album?
Ilenkus are a new band in my music playlist and they will strangle the most of you by creating a beautiful wall of sound marked by excellent guitar riffs, outstanding drumming and great vocals.
Ilenkus are an ambitious post, prog metal, hardcore outfit coming from Galway, Ireland, with three alternating front-men. The Crossing is the new full length of the band that follows their debut album Rule By Thieves of 2011. All three of the lead singers and guitar players write lyrics and this is for sure one of the reasons why the five songs that compose The Crossing have all so different atmospheres. Variety doesn’t mean mess though because there’s a central theme and each song focuses on it: “an idea we touch on a lot is relinquishing the illusion of control, allowing the primal elements of human nature to come to the fore and to see where they guide the self.”.
The Crossing has been and mixed by These Arms Are Snakes’ Chris Common (Chelsea Wolfe, Pelican) and it will be released on September 15th so, be ready to burn your ears.
The album kicks off with a bang in ‘Devourer’ with aggressive and trashy vocals that will scare you if you are not ready. The song changes completely after the first three minutes and the vocals are now clean and the guitar melody is extremely beautiful. The riff is catchy and the singer gives a fantastic vocal delivery in the verses. it’s just a pause though cause you’ll soon find yourself lost in a heavier wall of sound.
The following song is the track title and as soon as you’ll press play you’ll be immersed in a different world. It has a delicate and soft start; the band used a lot of different recording techniques and styles of production for it and when the vocals kick in they are just that additional instrument that complete a song that is really a work of art. The style change continues and it’s like having a song in a song and soon harsh vocals take the scene again before becoming clear again. The sound is brilliant and the execution is just perfect. The song concludes with a harsh ascension and a grind, leaving you with a fluttery synth and apprehensive for what’s next.
‘Be A Weapon’ was the first song written for this record. About two minutes in and the song relaxes back into the strange experimental sound we have seen in the previous tracks too with harsh vocals taking frontal focus. You were right to be apprehensive.
‘Over The Fire, Under The Smoke’ comes in with arpeggiated guitar riffs; more guitars and some drums to make your ears blow and your head explode. But it’s okay.
I’m in love with ‘Goodbye Denial’ that is probably the most different from the other tracks. It stars with a classic sound. The first minutes are soft and slow and so damn intense that it’s impossible not loving them. The chorus is memorable and this would be my favorite song from the album. It really transports me to somewhere with purpose and there’s no better way to get lost.
The journey through The Crossing ends here after approx 45 minutes of an intense and deep sound that will leave a sign on you. Ilenkus demonstrates that they have character and that their passion for music it’s here, it’s strong and you can touch it. What the Irish band deliver is a complex album that requires time to be fully understood and appreciated but it really deserves your time and your attention.
So, open your mind and adventure into it and you’ll be rewarded.
I also want to mention the notable artwork for this release that was designed by James Sheridan.
