Review Summary: We are so back
Eleven years have passed since Italian screamo legends Raein last released recorded music, and fourteen since their previous full-length. The band was never forgotten, but somehow their 2025 return Forme Sommerse slipped past me entirely—I didn’t even know they were working on new material. Had Raein resurfaced as a legacy act, that alone would’ve been enough to satisfy longtime fans. But true artists don’t just exist—they create. And with a return this late, the doubts are inevitable: do they still have it? Have they gone stale? Can they match, or even surpass, their earlier work? Spoiler alert: they absolutely still have it.
Forme Sommerse is lean and focused, clocking in just under thirty minutes and split into two extended movements: “Primo Movimento” and “Secondo Movimento.” It feels like years of ideas, jams, and experiments distilled into something cohesive rather than stitched together—purposeful, not nostalgic.
“Primo Movimento” opens with a phaser-soaked riff that briefly lulls you into calm before erupting into bright, tangling guitars and relentless percussion. Hints of post-rock and flashes of krautrock surface naturally, never overstaying their welcome. Nothing here sounds tired or tentative. In fact, it’s hard to believe this band was ever gone at all—everything feels fluid, confident, and alive. This isn’t just a return to form; it’s a refinement of it. Raein don’t recycle their past—they reanimate it. The energy is infectious, making stillness almost impossible. And the drumming deserves special praise: not flashy for its own sake, but propulsive, precise, and constantly pushing the songs forward.
“Secondo Movimento” flips the switch. Where the first track exercises patience and restraint, this one is all urgency and forward motion. It’s exhilarating, tense, and again driven by phenomenal drumming. Together, the two tracks feel inseparable—fragmented yet whole, like parts of a single evolving organism. Ideas that may have originated apart collide seamlessly, reinforcing each other rather than competing for space.
Even without understanding Italian, every word here feels believable. The vocals carry such weight and conviction that meaning becomes secondary to delivery. Whether the lyrics are poetic or pure chaos almost doesn’t matter—the phrasing and pronunciation are immaculate. Forme Sommerse sounds dense and lush without tipping into overproduction. It’s dynamic, balanced, and alive. While it may not replace early classics for the most diehard fans, it proves Raein aren’t content to live in their past. This is continuation, not nostalgia—forward motion, not a victory lap. Raein still have fuel in the tank, and Forme Sommerse makes one thing clear: they’re not done yet. Welcome back, Raein!
