Review Summary: Into a new dawn.
Amplifier are back in full swing, after successfully restarting the engine with the excellent
Hologram in 2023. Music continues to pour from the British duo, as
Gargantuan finally sees the light of day, being teased for a couple of years now. It turned out their most grandiose project so far, initially amassing three hours in length. Nevertheless, it was ultimately split for the sake of the listening experience. Its predecessor featured songs that formed a bubble of their own within the current sonic trajectory, whereas a follow up, consisting of more experimental cuts, is reportedly scheduled for next year. For now, we are left to discover the music that lies at the heart of this odyssey. Once more, a blend of old and new is audible, layering powerful riffs with melodic touches and warm vocals. Since the album mainly ponders life in an introspective way, while interspersed with various Sci-Fi references, the production needed to properly reflect these themes. Right from the start, “Gateway” kicks in with an immersive atmosphere. The busy drumming is coated in effect-laden guitars with sharp leads. The mesmerizing rhythm becomes more intense by the minute, aided by pounding beats and lush sing-alongs. Seguing into “Invader”, one of the heavier moments on the LP, we are graced with Balamir’s lovely croon over a rich sonic canvas. Same goes for “Guilty Pleasure”, offering a solid dose of low-end heavy riffs. Its labyrinthine structure keeps building significant tension, relieved solely by couple of melodic bits along the way. Moreover, “Pyramid” takes a turn into darker, bass-led territory. Its thick, slow burning groove and reverbed guitar parts gave birth to one of the moodiest tracks the group has penned so far.
Overall, there are various similarities with
Insider’s dense sound. However, there is more balance on
Gargantuan between hard and softer segments. Leaning into the latter category, “Blackhole” builds upon a droning sound scape. Sel’s falsetto beautifully accompanies the rather glacial chord picking, before warming up with a soothing solo towards the end. Meanwhile, “Cross Dissolve” shares a bittersweet vibe, with its nostalgic sounding progression and lapsing of time related lyrics. Matt’s drum fills are the roller coaster ride the airy rhythm needs. His inventive playing has always been a plus for the band’s compositions. Then, closing number, “Long Road” maintains the mood “Cross Dissolve” introduces, yet the music feels a tad more uplifting. Playing as a duo, effects have taken a more prevalent role, especially reverb, creating a loftier atmosphere. Perhaps this is a reason
Gargantuan seems monolithic at first glance, more so when compared to the friendlier
Hologram. Nevertheless, it slowly unfolds after a number of listens. It is not the most immediate affair in Amplifier’s catalogue, but ends up just as rewarding as ever.
