(((O))) : All We Expected / Raum Kingdom – Split

Released on September 14, 2015 via Independent

Neurosis and Isis have a lot to answer for or to be proud of, depending on whether you are a fan of post-metal or not. It’s a genre that hit an initial peak in the 90’s with genre originators, before swelling through the noughties, which led to the usual direct correlation between increase in artist numbers and general decrease in average quality of release. However, there are still plenty of bands putting out fantastic records in this arena, and this brings us neatly to a split LP by Belgian instrumental types All We Expected and Ireland’s own Raum Kingdom. Both bands fall neatly into the ‘post-metal’ bracket and both have one prior release to their name. Do they have what it takes to mark themselves out from the pack of Isis wannabes and ‘Pelican’ts’?

Given that this is a split release, I’m going to review this one side at a time. All We Expected take side A with two tracks that run to a combined running time just exceeding 20 minutes. The first track ‘We’re Not Born to Live Like Brutes’ runs with a simple but expansive riff that drips with atmosphere, building the intensity as it passes through several movements. There is a wonderfully effective section of quiet reflection with just bass and post-rock style guitars, plus some effective cymbal work, drenched in dread. The escalation, when it comes is gradual, reintroducing the percussion and bringing a downbeat progression to great effect, a beautiful reverb driven guitar line and a huge rolling, melodic pay-off riff that feels like it could have come from a 90’s alt band.

‘Flood’ follows a similar pattern, but is initially more immediate, coming out of the gate with a big riff topped with a pretty picked guitar line. There are more builds and crescendos, intelligent use of dynamics with lots of spacey prettiness and occasional use of a big fat riff to bring everything together, before building to feedback drenched climax. Both songs have a space and a relaxed pace to them that is refreshing – neither track reinvents the post-metal wheel, but both add some interesting influences that mark them out slightly from the pack and the production is uniformly excellent. If there was to be a criticism, it would be that on several occasions the lack of a vocal line is felt pretty keenly; there’s just a little bit too much space, and the instrumentation alone doesn’t quite keep the momentum rolling all of the time. That said, this only means the cherry is missing from a mighty tasty cake; and we still get cake, right?

Where All We Expected feel like Red Sparrowes at their expansive best, Raum Kingdom bring more than a touch of latter day Neurosis to their delivery, along with an ample helping of the dynamism, intelligent riffage and emotive vocals of Tool. It makes for an intoxicating mix, and in all honesty, they get the better ride of the two halves of this split. Both of their tracks bring an epic scope, but ‘Grace’ starts with an exceptionally dramatic introduction and a slightly eastern feel, underpinned by some pounding drums, and doesn’t really let up from there. It is a masterclass in dynamism, bringing volume and bluster where needed and quiet brooding intensity where the structure demands, the song maintains a consistent eastern feel in the guitar lines, reminiscent of Miocene at their finest. Vocalist Dave is the cherry that All We Expected are missing, moving with ease from an emotive, dreamy Maynard style singing voice to a full blooded Rosetta style roar in perfect concert with the music. ‘Grace’ builds to a huge final crescendo before a sudden drop to silence; a remarkably powerful experience when listened to at volume.

‘Lost in the Hunt’ is just as effective, crawling at a slower pace, aided by a wonderfully cold guitar tone that reinforces the glacial nature of the sound. There’s a slight drag in the mid-section, with a nice riff and some dreamy vocals that don’t feel like they go anywhere and the song teeters towards running out of steam before a bulky riff and some throat-shredding roars save the day and bring the song to a satisfying conclusion.

There are no losers on this record. Both bands bring a level of intensity and majesty to their sprawling compositions that exemplify the genre. It could be argued that neither band really move the genre on too far; it’s true that there is no reinvention going on here, but that doesn’t really matter when the quality is this high. Anyone with even a passing interest in the genre should give this a go – it’s a great record and serves to do exactly what a good split should do – which is serve as an introduction to two great bands and whet the appetite to make sure that the listener wants to hear more.