Review Summary: A band operating at the height of its post-metal power
The musical landscape has changed quite a bit since the last time Irreversible released an LP. A decade ago they were a part of a thriving “post metal” scene that constantly felt in competition with itself to see who could push the boundaries farthest away from what was widely considered to be “heavy music”. Today’s iteration of the genre has largely lost the edge that defined it’s first quarter century of popularity; any semblance of progress had long since faded into a pastiche of formulaic and quite honestly boring songs that often seemed to linger and employ heavy repetition simply for the sake of longevity. I was excited when I learned that one of my favorite bands of a seemingly bygone era had returned from the dead - that excitement only grew after sitting with their new record for a few days.
Upon first spin of Vessel a couple of things became immediately clear; the first being an acute sense of urgency that I have truly been missing from bands trying their hand at a similar sound. Though Irreversible present us with two 20 minute tracks (Esus & Thoth), the 40 minute runtime comes off as incredibly digestible. Instead of fixating on a single riff or texture for an extended period, the band always seem to be working to build to the next movement within the larger piece. The second thing I noticed was the variation of style presented within these two tracks. A revolving cast of musicians were involved in these songs with different lineups performing on each, and the record is better for it.
The listener is guided through a series of movements within both tracks, each seemingly presenting their own style but never losing a sense cohesion. There are moments that would feel at home on the usual “post” influenced records (read as: Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Isis) or even industrial grooves that would feel at home to a Godflesh fan; but there are also moments of true surprise. One example would be the shredding guitar solo at the end of Esus, a flex of musical acrobatics that showcases more pep in the step than any of the aforementioned bands ever dreamed of. Harsh noise, tape loops, and samples punctuate the different “movements” within the longer tracks, adding a healthy dose of atmosphere to the already nuanced performances and serving as a bit of glue to the different ideas.
Vessel feels like a band operating at the height of its power- it’s clear that the respective members know where they want both tracks to go and have a clear understanding of how to get there. It will take repeat listens to fully absorb the nuances presented on Esus and Thoth, and that is exactly what I recommend anyone reading this review does.
