Inter Arma
New Heaven


4.0
excellent

Review

by artificialbox CONTRIBUTOR (39 Reviews)
June 23rd, 2024 | 31 replies


Release Date: 04/26/2024 | Tracklist

Review Summary: one man's despair is another man's post-metal masterpiece.

As the old saying goes; one man's descent into despair is another man's post-metal masterpiece. At least that's what my grandma used to say, bless her soul. Inter Arma are a metal band from Richmond, VA, who have long since made a name for themselves by defying genre constraints and refusing to pigeonhole themselves as anything other than "the band who defies genre constraints". They seemed to hit a new peak of cohesivity with their kitchen sink blend of influences on 2019's Sulphur English, but whereas that album's sonic arc had some ebb and flow to it, New Heaven embarks on a downhill battle with no end to the bleakness in sight.

In a way, I feel lucky that this album was my first exposure to the band, because I had absolutely no idea of the ride I was about to embark on. New Heaven kicks off with a cluster bomb of dissonant stabs and spiraling harmonies before settling into a full on blackened-death pummel fest that spans the first three tracks. The guitars are sharp like razor wires, the drums of war boom with a threatening aura, everything echoes with a thunderous dark energy thanks to the cavernous production style. I would have liked to hear some extra oomph from the bass in the mix, but I digress. There is no sense of heaviness absent as Paparo growls and shrieks his abstract nihilism like the lone prisoner of a dying world - "You pluck your harp against the deathless echo of the driving rain, humming a joyless mantra not a single soul can hear".

Fourth track "Endless Grey" is where things start to get weird—gently ushering us to the dark side of the moon with an epic instrumental passage of dueling guitar leads and plodding funeral-esque drums before spitting us out into a cold wave of gothic post punk. In "Gardens in the Dark", Mike swaps out his growls for a baritone bellow as a wave of dismal synths wash against the steady rhythm of the bass and coalesce into cathartic crescendos. It's a stark shift in tone, but one that just feels right, as if we have just watched our protagonist descend through his reflection and into the shadow realm. It's in this realm where Mike pens some of his most heart wrenching lyrical content on the record - "Were you attempting to calm a storm that wouldn't subside? God damn that suicide, and your garden in the dark".

The next two tracks continue this trend of doom and gloom post punk while seamlessly weaving back in passages of growling, dirgy black metal. "Concrete Cliff" in particular stands out as having the most balance between the two moods of the album, but then we quickly hit the bottom of the elevator shaft, and it opens it's doors to a neo-folk hell. "Forest Service Road Blues" somehow manages to out-misery every other song on the album, and closes out our journey with the most desolate and lonely note it could muster. Mike sings of dwindling mental health and the societal isolation it causes as acoustic guitar, piano, and violin weep in congruence. "They say they've tried to coax him down a hundred times or more, but he just points to the shovel laying next to the door. They say sometimes you've just gotta let a man dig his own grave." It's the final nail in our coffin. We were born, we witnessed the ugliest parts of humanity, and now we've been laid to rest. Thus the album concludes. I told you it was bleak.

I can see how this type of album flow could be polarizing to veteran fans, especially following the aforementioned peak of cohesivity with Sulphur English, but New Heaven is simply a project that cares more of translating it's ideas with clarity than it does with feeling coherent. It has a narrative with a distinct arc that is brief, easy to follow, and offers plenty of replay incentive for those who don't mind feeling like they are listening to Portal, Neurosis and Nick Cave at the same time. That's a win in my books.



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user ratings (97)
3.6
great

Comments:Add a Comment 
artificialbox
Contributing Reviewer
June 23rd 2024


3204 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I adore this album and really enjoyed the challenge of reviewing it. I'm trying to get out of my comfort zone and write about genres that I'm less versed in, so please feel free to give feedback.



https://interarma.bandcamp.com/album/new-heaven

bellovddd
June 23rd 2024


7329 Comments


lmao love that summary line.

Confessed2005
June 23rd 2024


6345 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Good review, pos'd.



I do like this but I've only listened to it a couple of times. Perhaps it will grow on me with repeated listens.

pizzamachine
June 23rd 2024


27841 Comments


One man’s cock is another man’s vagina

artificialbox
Contributing Reviewer
June 23rd 2024


3204 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

so true pizza. thanks guys!

trilo
June 23rd 2024


6753 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

sick review g



this is my least fav inter arma sadly. like a ~3.3 tbh. still can't get on board with the production and it feels a little incomplete. wanted another banger track. violet seizures, children and concrete cliffs are all great though.

botb
June 23rd 2024


18852 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Good review man, still haven’t formed a super hard opinion on this one, need to spin it again

Frost15
June 23rd 2024


4034 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Pretty good experimental and potentially transitional album by a superb band

artificialbox
Contributing Reviewer
June 24th 2024


3204 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

ty guys. agreed frost!

DDDeftoneDDD
June 24th 2024


22943 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Weird af album, that I happen to like

Hawks
June 26th 2024


97769 Comments


Awesome review buddy! I still haven't jammed this lol.

artificialbox
Contributing Reviewer
June 26th 2024


3204 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

thanks bro! it’s worth a jam. defs a weird album than can perhaps feel disjointed, but I like to think of it more like a movie or a play with different “acts”.

GhostShelter
June 26th 2024


1285 Comments


Never been able to get into this band.

JWT155
June 26th 2024


14986 Comments


Drummer is a beast

Frost15
June 26th 2024


4034 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Indeed, he is the Bonham of sludge metal. Listen to the Atavist's meridian from their previous album. Tasty stuff drum wise

Wizard
June 26th 2024


20577 Comments


They seemed to hit a new peak of cohesivity with their kitchen sink blend of influences on 2019's Sulphur English

in a way, I feel lucky that this album was my first exposure to the band, because I had absolutely no idea of the ride I was about to embark on.

Welcome aboard! Just wanted to point how Sulphur English was by and large their most cohesive work and this is when I started to like this band. I absolutely hate Sky Burial for the kitchen sink approach. Do a run through of their albums and you will see this too.

Review was well written!

artificialbox
Contributing Reviewer
June 26th 2024


3204 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Thanks Wizard! I made sure to listen to Sulphur English and Paradise Gallows and The Cavern before writing this just to have a bit more context on them. All excellent releases. Still need to listen to Sky Burial and Sundown.

Also agreed the drummer slaps. His playing is one of my favourite things about this album.

Pikazilla
June 26th 2024


31638 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

sky burial is still my favourite by them

Wildcardbitchesss
June 26th 2024


15159 Comments


Almost completely missed it but these guys are playing in my town with Pallbearer. Should be a fun night

artificialbox
Contributing Reviewer
June 26th 2024


3204 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

hell yeah they are playing my city too. heavily considering going.



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