(((O))) Review: Glacier – A Distant, Violent Shudder

Chicago five piece post-metal band Glacier are a band I’ve not encountered before. Their new album A Distant, Violent Shudder arrives with some hefty promise. In a particular frame of mind, there’s nothing I like better than good heavy riffage with any extra embellishments a band can conjure up. In this case, there’s some snippets of spoken word to create an atmosphere and storyline.

Opening with ‘Grief Rolled In Like A Storm’, all taut chugging riffs and a sturdy beat very reminiscent of Pelican. There’s a fuzzy waspish guitar line driving on the melodies. Halfway through the track a passage of spacious calm ensues with some clean guitars and a wandering bass groove. Sampled voices end the track leading straight into the oddly named ‘“The old timers said they’d never seen nothin’ like that”’, which starts as a funereal downbeat track of quietly strummed guitar and what sounds like a car careering off a road. Eventually the track switches into a scathing metallic section of furious drums and fiery riffs. When it settles back to a slower pace a screeching solo erupts and it’s a glorious moment.

‘Distant/Violent’ gets stripped right down to a twanging guitar and we’re thrown into a desert scene where no life appears for miles. Droning atmospherics create a deep unease as the tension slowly builds with distortion getting louder under the screeching guitar line and pounding drums. When the main section swings in it’s a stupendous drone of layered guitars and thunderous drums. Then there’s a surprise when some howled black metal vocals drift into the mix. By the end of the track, you’re listening to the soundtrack of hell erupting. Mangled sampled voices bring a cinematic feel to the album and this is showcased in the interlude ‘“Sometimes it would be a week before we would see the sun”’. It’s like something out of a David Lynch movie creating a mystique around the music. Closing track ‘Sand Bitten Lungs’ is a snarling grunting track of edgy riffs and tumbling drums. Elements of noise rock creep in with the vile guitar line that’s all crackles and feedback. There’s a nod to Metallica with the powerful grinding section which commences halfway through with the guitar tones aligning with Hammett’s.

Whilst not exactly breaking any delph with their sound, I found this an enjoyable album to listen to. The production is excellent with crisp drums and a good balance between scuzzy guitars and still retaining a nice sheen. It’s impossible not to align Glacier with Pelican, their sound and dynamics are very alike. That’s meant as a compliment as I’ve a lot of time for Pelican. A Distant, Violent Shudder is a solid post-metal album and a mighty fine listen.