Review Summary: Scale and isolation.
Depicting the grandeur of the mighty vacuum in the auditory medium is two parts ironic, one part exigent. The sound of space has been shaped more by personal interpretation than substantial evidence, but
Resonance: Crimson Void (
Resonance from here on) chooses to tackle the atmosphere with just a few simple concepts in mind. Scale and isolation. In light of the well-received
Sol split between Mare Cognitum and Spectral Lore, this new release doesn't quite reach the extremes of size and depth that were previously achieved. Regardless of a substantially shorter run-time here, however, Mare Cognitum and Aureole manage to induce a tone of suffocation with alarming ease.
The chime of a bell, a swelling build, and Mare Cognitum explode onto
Resonance's opening seconds. Solo band member Jacob Buczarski pushes the song between Shylmagoghnar-esque riffing and cavernous chord progressions smoothly, with a large amount of emphasis placed on creating a massive and harrowing atmosphere. Very few chord progressions on opening track "Crimson Abyss: NGC 2237" resolve triumphantly, with the band often opting to push the darker undertones further into the limelight. The track reeks of hopelessness, a theme which is only pronounced further in the following track. "Crimson Abyss: NGC 2238" is a destructive blaze of layered riffs from start to finish, and while it isn't nearly as expansive in tone or length as the prior track, its eventual climax is a rampantly aggressive closer that ties the first half of
Resonance off brilliantly.
Jacob Buczarski's eye for talent is sharp, because
Resonance has really unveiled the sheer levels of potential stored in Aureole's Markov Soroka. Aureole's half of the split is pure asphyxiation. The leads are frozen cold, ringing out over huge layers of distortion. "Void Obsidian: NGC 2244" is a standout track, combining dreary melody and gorgeous atmospherics to maximum effect. Aureole's image of space is uncomfortably tangible, and the attention to detail in the instrumentation in many ways gives this half of the split an edge over Mare Cognitum's own. Builds come naturally, slowly entwining swirling leads and clean-picked chords into cataclysmic waves of thunder, evident in the massive closer "Void Obsidian: NGC 2246". Choosing two different snare tones within these tracks was a fantastic addition, aiding in building atmosphere and crescendo.
Resonance does very little wrong for a split. It tackles a massive idea wonderfully in a short amount of time. Both sides of the split present different heads of the same coin, providing enough artistic similarities for cohesion, but enough individuality for extended replay value. Neither act presents a take on space unseen in metal's spheres, but the consistency of quality throughout this release is thoroughly enjoyable.
Resonance floats uninterrupted in the void; its obstacles are distant, and its venture is immense.
