Review Summary: Very | Solid
Multi-national collective Calligram (their membership hails from four different countries) made a mild splash in the metal scene with their 2020 debut LP
The Eye is the First Circle. Its feral, concise batch of hardcore-tinged black metal tunes wasn’t exactly innovative, but satisfying nonetheless. Now, sophomore effort
Position | Momentum sees the crew back for more.
This new album isn’t exactly a different beast than its predecessor, even if there are some shifts. Things are still kept fairly short and to the point, with
Position | Momentum’s eight songs barely passing the forty minute mark in full, a sense of aggression and violence continues to rule the day, and the previous reference to hardcore-tinged black metal is still an adequate description of the music on tap. With all that said, though, Calligram here seem to be much more inclined towards gratuitously dipping into a broader range of musical styles for influence. By way of example, there are traces of post-rock all over (and post-metal in the sprawling “Ostranenie”), numerous moments inspired by the plodding heaviness of doom metal, and marked signs of post-rock-infused screamo in the unsettlingly beautiful first half of closer “Seminario Dieci”. Most of the time, the group is still content with pummeling the listener through fast-paced and unvarnished ferocity, but there’s a renewed focus on gentler sonic elements, whether it’s the mellower guitar parts which pop up now and again, or just moments of quieter dynamics. These variations go a long way to making the album maximally engaging.
There are some frustrations - for example, the stasis in the middle of “Frantumi In Itinere” goes on a bit too long before the track plunges once more headlong into heaviness, and fourth track “Tebe” feels largely forgettable, but as a whole
Position | Momentum is a strong release which builds upon Calligram’s noteworthy debut. There’s little here which feels wholly fresh, but the music is undeniably well-crafted and competently delivered. Most of all, this is a fairly short album which feels even shorter than it is: perhaps an odd compliment, but serving as the mark of a reliably engaging listen which doesn’t get bogged-down in “saminess”. A broad swath of music fans in the mood for something heavy should find something to like here.
