Skip to content
ASTRAL NOIZE
Forward-thinking, noise-ridden curation.
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Shop
  • Label
  • Events
  • Patreon
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Reddit
  • Search
Reviews
by adamastralnoizeSeptember 30, 20191:46 pm

Review: We Lost The Sea — Triumph & Disaster

The most important question around We Lost The Sea’s Triumph & Disaster is “just where are they at post-Departure Songs?”. Departure Songs was an unquestionably emotive experience, a stirring dedication to late bandmate and singer Chris Torpy that simultaneously expanded their sound beyond the bounds of ordinary post-metal. The answer is that where Triumph & Disaster naturally doesn’t carry the same emotional poignancy as its predecessor, it does continue We Lost The Sea’s adventure into wider musical pastures.

Like many post-rock and post-metal outfits that forego vocals, which We Lost The Sea have done since Torpy’s passing, the music can require some deep dives to connect with. Triumph & Disaster is at first ambiguous, a vast tapestry of textures ranging from groovy metallic riffs like in opener ‘Towers’ to the dizzy surf rock-inspired guitar licks in ‘Parting Ways’ to the introspective build of ‘Distant Shores’. These elements are all intriguing in the moment, yet can feel distant after they’ve passed, at least on initial listen. Indeed, the compositions are long and dense, requiring dedicated attention and perhaps a bit of imagination to connect with on a deeper level.

Closing cut ‘Mothers Hymn’ stands out the most initially, being the only track to feature vocals, courtesy of Louise Nutting, who turns in a startling spiritual performance that wouldn’t be out of place in a church setting. Though closing on an immediate and emotionally gripping performance, Triumph & Disaster can seem like a large and unwieldy beast. It’s full of eclectic sounds and accomplished instrumentals, but is difficult to grasp onto immediately. With time though, the tapestry comes to life and Triumph & Disaster sweeps the listener off in a long yet satisfying adventure.

Triumph & Disaster is out 4th October via Holy Roar Records and can be purchased here.

Words: Brett Tharp

Liked it? Take a second to support adamastralnoize on Patreon!
Tagged with: astral noize astral noize reviews atmospheric emotional holy roar Holy Roar records instrumental post-metal post-rock triumph and disaster we lost the sea

iThere are no comments

Add yours

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Top Posts

  • Album Of The Week / Divide And Dissolve - Gas Lit
  • Premiere: Cultum Draculesti – Golden Brooches
  • Bestial manifestations and catacombs of fear: 10 of the best modern death-thrash bands
  • Shreds of Sanity: Bolt Thrower's Entire Discography Ranked
  • Review / Asphyx - Necroceros
  • Arctic Death Metal: Into the Frostbitten Wastes with Frozen Soul
  • Burial Grounds, Dead Languages and Folk Horror: A Profile of Astral Folk
  • From simplistic fun to technical wizardry: The bands taking thrash forward
  • Under the Radar: 17 of the Best Underground Black Metal Projects
  • Under The Radar: 14 Must-Hear Bands from the Stoner Rock and Metal Underground

Recent Posts

  • Album Of The Week / Divide And Dissolve – Gas Lit
  • Premiere: Cultum Draculesti – Golden Brooches
  • Review / Sunnata – Burning In Heaven, Melting On Earth
  • Arctic Death Metal: Into the Frostbitten Wastes with Frozen Soul
  • Review / Asphyx – Necroceros
  • Review / thisquietarmy x Away – The Singularity, Phase 1
  • Warped into the 8-bit Dimension with Cara Neir
  • Review / Aura Hiemis – Wenn Der Regen Fällt
  • Burial Grounds, Dead Languages and Folk Horror: A Profile of Astral Folk
  • Review / Thou & Emma Ruth Rundle – The Helm Of Sorrow

Follow us on Twitter

My Tweets

Playlist

Begin typing your search above and press return to search. Press Esc to cancel.