Oh man I have been waiting to hear this new album from Light Bearer for what seems like an aeon.
Formed in 2010 and hailing from London UK, Light Bearer is a concept musical project created by vocalist Alex and his band mates Matthew - guitar, Jamie - Guitar, Gerfried - Bass, Joe - Drums and Lee - Keyboard.
Silver Tongue is the 2nd instalment in what will collectively be known as the “Æsahættr Tetralogy”. Amongst other themes it tells the story of Lucifer, the bringer, or bearer of light drawing influences from the writings of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, John Milton’s Paradise Lost, and the Book of Genesis. One could be forgiven for thinking that the subject matter is wholly religious but despite the subject matter, their lyrical content is aggressively anti theist, pro feminist and anti speciesist. As their biography states, 'It is an allegorical tale which directly deconstructs and derails monotheistic mythology, attacking religious ideology which has created oppressive cultural norms around gender, sexuality, race, species and progressive thought.'
The vocalist, Alex, was once the front man of another concept band, the now sadly ended Fall of Efrafa. Boy, what a damn fine band they were, putting out 3 masterpieces of atmospheric hardcore, doom and post metal with elements of crust thrown in. They were a difficult band to define and that is what made them so unique. Now with Light Bearer, a similar melting pot of genres continues, expertly crafted into another masterpiece of heart breaking and emotional barrage of beautiful noise. Light Bearer go everywhere, plucking your heart strings, messing with your head, filling you with a whole range of emotions; it is a journey into the collective soul of humankind and it tears out the rawest of emotions, ones we all know so well and have all felt countless times.
I want to cry with joy, I want to laugh at the universal joke, I want stand tall and raise my arms to the sky; this is what liberation and redemption sounds like, it is what it feels like. Light Bearer get right in there and bring it all to the surface.
The 6 tracks that comprise this album consist of solemn but beautifully sauntering string sections, brass instruments, heavy guitar and bass, tight percussion and hardcore style vocals with moments of luscious harmonic singing. There are heavy moments of doom and sludge, of atmospheric drone, searing and uplifting post-metal, faster crust and hardcore break outs and soft and sad classical introspection. Light Bearer go all over the place and it is perfect and a real testament to the musicians song writing talents.
After hearing the album the first time I went back and immediately listened to it over again, and again and again. I have listened to it many times every day since it was released and it just gets better with every hearing. It is a masterpiece, and I do not use that word lightly here. I really mean it.
After completing each listen I feel lifted and I feel a better person for it, as if a burden of weight has been taken from me.
If a melding of atmospheric post metal/hardcore/doom/drone/crust is your thing then bag this release. Even if it isn't then bag it anyway. You will not be disappointed.
Soon to be released on vinyl from Halo of Flies Records for its US release and Alerta Antifascista Records for the European release it will feature the incredible artwork of Alex the vocalist of Light Bearer.
Until then, Silver Tongue is now available from their bandcamp as a name your price digital download.
Great review Al! This sounds like something I will have to dedicate some time to. With your praise this could end up at the top come end of 2013.
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