Review Summary: Curia this.
Bells toll and we listen. Whether it’s the early call to church on a weekend or the slow march that leads a man to the gallows; the noise and pomp of a chime is a captivating juxtaposition to what we would naturally detest. In many ways the more extreme climes of metal music have the same appeal and
Curia’s stoic, yet gentle beginnings have similar effect to the bells that call us to action. If I can stretch these vague analogies further, Noise Trail Immersion’s first ‘ringing of the bells’ came in the form of their sophomore album,
Symbology Of Shelter, which transformed an amalgamation of core, post, black, math metal leanings and some manner of avant garde tomfoolery. This collection of influences really dissected the planes between each element and reformed into a molten, motley collection of enjoyably ferocious riff driven music. In summary:
Symbology of Shelter is something else, in a scene crying out for it.
Even as we move forwards to more current times, it would be fair to say that
Curia had some hype to live up to. While I admit some expectations may have skewed my perceptions towards new music
this late in the year, Noise Trail Immersion’s third studio effort offers growth, introspective and mature—especially in regards to the act’s overall atmospheres. But this begs the question: how does a band credited to being the unholy lovechild of Blut Aus Nord, Deathspell Omega and something...core develop past their own tendency to avant garde?
Curia is comparatively more contemplative as the band’s more storied black metal climes are transformed into less caustic atmospheric approaches. The toll of a bell signals a new era for Noise Trail Immersion; harsh melody wraps acoustic pandering—”Riesistere I” spends its time seeking out a trail of discordant notes and just like Hansel and Gretel, listeners follow the crumb trail to where it leads. “Demiurgo del non ritorno” by contrast is the familiar furor of old, filled to the brim with the molten elasticity that once drove the likes of
Symbology of Shelter. A wash of jarring chord progressions parade over some seriously impressive drum chops and the blasts and cymbal work seamlessly meld into vocalist Fabio Rapetti’s use of shrieks, growls, snarls and all manner of caustic throat noises.
Even as “Dimorare nella carne” continues in feel of the track that came before it; it’s as much a counterpart to the jagged dichotomy and frenzied aesthetic Noise Trail Immersion are known for and yet there’s a restrained, almost pin-point accuracy to the warbling dissonant notes that bleed out of the meticulous chord progressions. Thankfully,
Curia is self aware enough (or rather the musicians behind the project) to provide ample breathing room for the listener who
needs a self-aware break from the chaos and outward displays of dissonance. Like its counterpart (and album opener), “Riesistere II” provides lush, spaced out acoustic moods (largely of melancholy and tension) to spread out the anti-harmony and distinct abrasion found within the track’s more “traditional” settings. This allows for deeper cuts like “Eclissi unanime” and the title track to take a more poignant, if not similar approach to that found in the record’s earlier sections. The core values remain the same, if not manipulated by the band’s leanings towards atmosphere and introspection.
Some changing features become glaringly obvious; like those acoustically led breaks between ‘heaviness’, while other elements may take repeated visits before they make themselves self-aware. With this in mind I feel as though
Curia is as much for the band behind the project as it is for the fans. Self-reflection, growth and maturity all bleed from Noise Trail Immersion’s new music, but it’s less the outward display of change than it is a slow epiphany from within. Noise Trail Immersion may be on the cusp of something. The music is still amazing, but even as this Italian blackened-whatever-the-f
uck-mathcore act works out the finer details,
Curia still feels like it’s not [quite] all there. We can see what’s coming and it’s beautiful. Thankfully, Noise Trail Immersion have both the potential and years to reach the heights (or depths) to which they aim.
