Right, in between my household tasks, it's time to do what I intended to this week: write at least one review a day. In this particular situation, that not only means a change of scenery (from kitchen to living room) but also a change of sound. Right before this EP started playing, acts like Shaolin Wooden Men, Hallucinogen and Planetary Assault System had been blasting their electronic beats through my speakers. Now it's time for something different, courtesy of Swiss five piece Darius. And when I say different, I mean "completely and utterly" different. This is probably what would happen if Melvins and Russian Circles enter a studio to record a Black Sabbath tribute.
This EP is the follow-up to their 2015 album 'Grain'. It contains four tracks. In these tracks, Darius shows a rough version of post rock and post metal. That roughness seems to be inspired by noise rock acts and it really sets Darius apart from many other post-whatever bands. Opener 'Glaucal' is a perfect example of that. A bit chaotic, a bit uneasy but rocking like hell. 'Charlotte' is my personal favorite. It contains the same roughness but also manages to capture the immersive atmosphere for which we all love post rock so much. This is a narrative piece of music in which heavy riffing and dreamy passages alternate.
'Pipistolet' is a short but intense riff based groover and mainly functions as a bridge between 'Charlotte' and 'Trace'. You can bang your head to this little thing, which I guess is awesome. Eventually, 'Trace' once again drags the listener along sonic and epic musical landscapes. It's an excellent competitor for 'Charlotte', thriving on basically the same elements. Together, they're definitely worth your attention. If you are into bands like Jakob, Pelican and Bossk, you should give this one a try. You won't regret it.