Gorguts
Pleiades' Dust


4.4
superb

Review

by Xenophanes EMERITUS
May 8th, 2016 | 820 replies


Release Date: 2016 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Is "Pleiades' Dust" just 33-minutes of "Colored Sands" condensed into one song? Yeah, it basically is. Is that in its own right a wonderful thing? Absolutely.

Only Gorguts could disappear for over a decade then rise from the abyss and still claim the status as the greatest death metal band around. This is probably more indicative of the fact that death metal as a genre has been moving like a stuck car, slinging mud while its wheels spin wildly, but I digress.Truthfully, Gorguts have always been held in high regard as one of the more inventive bands in the genre, because they're just that ***ing good.

Since the late 90s Gorguts have occupied a niche of death metal that straddles the line between good ol' fashioned classic death and technical metal. Combined to make a dissonant and masterful sound, each Gorguts record has earned a classic status among genre fans. That being said, even Luc Lemay has his influences. The band's latest release, Pleiades' Dust, takes a page from Deathspell Omega's Chaining the Katechon, a beefy EP that saw the French black metal act try their hand at a long form composition. As one of Lemay's favorite 'weird metal albums' his emulation is quite obvious.

Not so unexpectedly, Gorguts' attempt at emulation arrives with glorious results.

Chronicling The House of Wisdom in Baghdad, Lemay once again shows his prowess at tackling oft looked over subjects while tapping into historical context. A 33-minute foray about a library seems over indulgent at first, and really that feeling sort of sticks around. Grand ambitions and bold statements run the gamut in death metal so an epic track that surrounds one of the greatest resources of knowledge seems strangely fitting. Of course this is created by a vehicle called Gorguts, but once more, I digress.

It goes without saying that Pleiades' Dust is Gorguts firing on all cylinders (because when are they not?) The EP sounds, well, perfect. Gorguts are a perfect band who never sound anything less than masterful. The hazy dissonance and brute technicality is better than ever. As wonderful as Colored Sands sounded, Pleiades' Dust sounds even better. The band's most recent era is brought to the forefront, as the song dips into strange and melodic territory quite often, with the eerie beauty of "La Toit du Monde" rearing its head in some unexpected places. A sense of dread festers throughout which is made more complicated when moments of lush ambient set an ambiguous tone.

And while these moments are lovely in their own right, the way that they are organized is where Pleiades' Dust trips up a bit. When Gorguts first premiered the EP the news came coupled with a 'segment' from the song. This segment feels, in its own right, like a fully fleshed out song with a distinct identity separate from any other context. That is the theme that permeates the EP--awkward and obvious transition. Never do the transitions seem jarring. However, in some cases the smooth and ambient outros that lead into intros seem so obvious and shoe horned in. Of course they are necessary, but it gives the listener a nudging reminder that yeah, this is basically just an EP formed into a big song.

Yet the song is always so compelling, so rich and vibrant, so immaculately layered that in the end it doesn't really matter. Gorguts, as usual, have created a death metal masterpiece. No one does it better. Dissonant, complex, and brilliantly technical (Kevin Hufnagel's bass work wasn't even covered here), Pleiades' Dust is a little experiment that achieves a level of greatness that many bands could never hope to achieve.

Is the EP just 33-minutes of Colored Sands condensed into one song? Yeah, it basically is. Is that in its own right a wonderful thing? Absolutely.



Recent reviews by this author
Cynic Ascension CodesThe World Is a Beautiful Place... Illusory Walls
Krallice Mass CathexisImperial Triumphant Alphaville
Feminazgul No Dawn for MenBlood Incantation Hidden History of the Human Race
user ratings (637)
4
excellent
other reviews of this album
noinoeso (5)
Gorguts create a fascinating narrative that uses music as its main vehicle to tell a story....



Comments:Add a Comment 
Tunaboy45
May 8th 2016


18702 Comments


Sweet, need to check this out.

Jots
Emeritus
May 8th 2016


7584 Comments


yeah why wouldnt they feature EPs

MO
May 8th 2016


24131 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

fuck yea eli. at first I was like yea this is a solid 4. but with more listens it's dawned on me just how great it is.



those progressive passages are fucking perfect

Gameofmetal
Emeritus
May 8th 2016


11764 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

ep is so fkin good

beefshoes
May 8th 2016


8445 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Just like every Gorguts release, this takes quite a few listens to digest.

Amazing release, and I honestly wish that it had been longer.

MoosechriS
May 8th 2016


6353 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Patiently waiting for my preorder to arrive at the end of the week, looking forward to hearing it even more now

Hawks
May 8th 2016


94948 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Best band ever yeah.

MO
May 8th 2016


24131 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

hawks diggin' a meshuggah album?!?! wtf is happening

sonictheplumber
May 8th 2016


17592 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

damn i should check this. gorguts always churn out riffs

Tunaboy45
May 8th 2016


18702 Comments


Gorguts never disappoint.

Maniac!
May 8th 2016


28552 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

best gorguts agreed

TalonsOfFire
Emeritus
May 8th 2016


21009 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

This is fantastic, easily as good as Colored Sands if not better.

DePlazz
May 8th 2016


4737 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Total trip

emester
May 8th 2016


8271 Comments


This wipes its ass with Colored Sands.


ChoccyPhilly
May 8th 2016


13656 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

The more I listen to this the more I adore it, especially the production. I think this has actually topped Colored Sands

emester
May 8th 2016


8271 Comments


"I think this has actually topped Colored Sands"

not too hard of a feat tbh

ChoccyPhilly
May 8th 2016


13656 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I dunno, a single 33 minute track makes me worried about the many things that could go wrong. A single boring passage lasting 5 minutes can ruin the entire song but I'm glad to say that doesn't exist here

Totengott
May 8th 2016


4252 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Album rules just like any Gorguts.

GooeyInterface
May 8th 2016


5 Comments


Minor correction: unless the band switched things up, isn't Colin Marston on bass, not Kevin Hufnagel?

betray
May 8th 2016


9392 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

good review



You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login | Create a Profile





STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Site Copyright 2005-2023 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy