From time to time, a band comes along that completely blows everything else out of the water, and the last few months have been packed with incredible surprises, like Septaria (review coming soon) and this astonishing band from Iceland, simply called Múr. Their self-titled debut album is a masterpiece that demands attention. 

 The record kicks off with the epic "Eldhaf," a nine-minute journey that showcases the band's ability to craft grandiose, melodic post-metal. But it doesn’t stop there—Mur effortlessly transitions into fierce, relentless death metal, at times evoking the intensity and complexity of Gojira. 

This momentum carries through into the next track, "Frelsari," which delivers crushing riffs and hard-hitting rhythms, further redefining what we can expect from modern metal. Elsewhere, "Messa" dives into electronic elements, creating a vicious blend of Strapping Young Lad’s chaotic energy and Gojira’s precision. 

Then, "Heimsslit" sees the band returning to their post-metal moments, weaving spacious and contemplative atmospheres that add depth and contrast to the album’s already dynamic sound. 

The closing track, and personal highlight, "Holskefla" delivers more punch than an enraged bull. It begins with a subtle, melodic guitar intro, luring the listener into a false sense of calm before erupting into massive, bone-crushing riffs, played with a precise, almost militaristic rhythm that commands attention. This track alone proves Múr’s unrelenting force and musical prowess. 

 Snatched up by Century Media, Múr is an album brimming with potential—a testament to a band that’s not just making waves but destined for even greater things. Their unique blend of intensity, complexity, and sheer power is bound to elevate them to the next level in the metal scene. (8/10)

Jason Hicks

Band info: https://www.facebook.com/mur.official.band

Label info: https://www.centurymedia.com

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Gripping us by the heels and dragging us from the water’s edge down through all five pelagic depth-zones with their latest epic ‘Pelagial’, German progressive metal collective The Ocean have created a turbulent yet sumptuous journey spanning 53-minutes. Envisaged as one complete conceptual composition, ‘Pelagial’ was originally recorded solely as an instrumental piece due to vocalist Loic Rossetti suffering from severe health issues. Rossetti, however, recovered in time to—along with various barbarous throats from contemporary metal—add another layer to the new record and, interestingly, The Ocean has released both versions of ‘Pelagial’ together.
Because the music was completed without Rossetti in mind, the positioning of his vocals atop what is extremely expressive music, effortlessly coasting from Opeth-ian grandiosity to churning post-metal oblivion, can, at times, sound awkward and some melodies simply do not work. Saying that, the inclusion of powerful screams during the writhing syncopations of ‘Bathyalpelagic III: Disequillibrated’ and the dreamy, clean vocals that float along with the ethereal passages of ‘Abyssopelagic II: Signals of Anxiety’ imparts a different dimension when compared to the instrumental recording, and these colourful vocal turns, amongst others, do accentuate the gripping nature of the music.
The instrumental only side on the other hand, really brings the musical nuances to the fore, as it becomes clearer that certain codas that occur early on subtly re-appear during different stages of this submersion. The intricate transitions are also much more noticeable without the vocals, as the instrumentation moves from the serene-sounding harp and piano that shimmers like the sun gleaming across a vast, unexplored vista, to the diaphanous weight of the music that pulls you deeper and deeper into the terrors of the unknown as ‘Pelagial’ progresses.
The beauty of this release is that The Ocean has given us the opportunity to explore the different facets of the two versions and decide for ourselves, and there is a multitude to discover, enjoy and contrast within both. With each passing release, The Ocean has become more renowned for meticulously dedicating time to constructing labyrinthine concepts, arranging the music and contributors, and making sure the packaging and artwork all intertwine. ‘Pelagial’ is a supreme expression of such extensive and intensive labours, and with this record The Ocean rise from the spray as one of progressive metal’s most essential.

Dean Brown 

Band info: www.theoceancollective.com
Label info: www.metalblade.com

 

Dean Brown is a metal scribe based in Ireland. He is currently a contributing editor to the North American cultural magazine Popmatters and he regularly throws words for a number of other reputable loud noise publications such as About.com/heavy metal, Soundshock.com, MetalIreland.com, MoltenMagazine.com, amongst others. He has a strong affinity for music that shakes souls and leaves debilitating tinnitus in its wake and such obsession has left him financially and medically crippled, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. Follow Dean on twitter @reus85

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Intronaut might not play as ferociously as they did when they started out seven years ago, but they still sound incredibly strong and engaging. Fans who disapproved the shift in direction towards a more progressive and less aggressive sound evidenced on “Valley of Smoke”, most likely will not appreciate this new record either as it is considerably less punishing and much more ethereal. “Habitual Levitations” continues along the same path explored on previous effort, but with a bit more polish and saccharine. They don't seek to pummel listeners with crushing riffs or fierce vocals anymore; instead they now fully embrace their progressive and jazzy influences, delivering a rapturous record full of moments of striking beauty. Songs like “Killing Birds with Stones” and “Milk Leg” are incredibly captivating, enhanced by the charming vocal melodies of Sacha Dunable that along with smooth proggy nuances transport listeners to an ethereal, dreamlike atmosphere.
Unlike some of their peers who often get lost in overly technical details, Intronaut have always possessed a strong sense of restraint and a good understanding of songcraft, and in this particular field “Habitual Levitations” truly excels. These songs are all brilliantly constructed pieces of proggy-metal with jazzy nuances and all performances are in perfect sync.
“Habitual Levitations” shows a group in ascendancy mode, pushing boundaries and evolving their sound. Essentially a pleasant surprise that gets better with each listen. 

Band info: www.intronautofficial.com 
Label info: www.centurymedia.com

 
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