Review Summary: An exciting EP showing maturity beyond the band's years
Some people in this world are blessed with a cornucopia of musical talent, and when a group of these musicians come together and create music, a band like Sun of Gaia is formed. Hailing from Adelaide in Australia, the young group released their first EP, Corrode, in early 2016. Australia has developed a healthy habit of producing high quality metal bands in recent years, and it’s clear that Sun of Gaia received that memo loud and clear.
While clocking in at just over half an hour in duration, the 6 song EP has the depth and intricacy of a full length album. Kicking off with the title track, one of the finest riffs on the album fades in and the ferocity of the quintet is instantaneously on display. One of the most interesting aspects of Sun of Gaia is their use of dual vocalists, and the nature of this unique arrangement is offered to the listener immediately as lead vocalist Lachlan Odell and drummer Rory Amoy abrasively share the load with the opening lines “corrode, encompass the earth, drown out the light and shatter the sun.” Delivered with surgical accuracy, you get a strong sense of the dark direction the band is intending to take.
As the second track Endless Wake seamlessly flows on from the title, the uncompromising groove that will be a mainstay of the group throughout their career is evident. There is a tight understanding of the strengths of each band member and a natural bond between the joint vocalists, who sound so uncannily similar that at times it’s hard to decipher just which of the two is spitting out the technical lyricism. By this point the biggest criticism would be in the production quality, which is not bad by any means, but typically a bit below par for new bands starting out with limited resources and funds. The drums sometimes get washed into the mix, occasionally sounding like an electric kit rather than an acoustic, while the guitars can tend to sound muddy in parts.
The album doesn’t slow down or lose its intensity at any point before it reaches its epic climax, As The Clouds Cry. Following an orchestral opening, the band conjures up their finest moments of the EP with some catchy lead guitar work, hammering vocals and machine gun like drumming paving the way for a harrowing insight into the musical cogs that make these young men tick. As the track rounds out with another light orchestral arrangement, it feels like the nucleus of the band moving forward has been most clearly displayed in the albums final 8 minutes.
Listening to Corrode, it’s hard to imagine the groups oldest member has only experienced 20 years of life. The arrangements, technicality, accuracy and emotion all feel like a band who has been in the game for many years. Corrode provides a raw insight into what to expect from Sun of Gaia as they pave their way down the musical path. Contrary to the nature of their lyrics, the future is bright and bold for these young musicians.
