Your Burden is Safe With Me – The Ephemeral (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

Despite the fact that, as is always the way with music made at the extreme end of the rock trajectory, there is a lot going on here (a bit of an understatement), The Ephemeral understanding that there is as much traction to be found in melody as there is muscle. And so, between some of the most sky-searing crescendoes, technical, almost mathy progressions, thunderous beats and depth-charge basslines, are passages that fall into more ambient (relatively speaking) shoegaze territory. It’s a heady blend indeed.

Mayfly is an excellent example of this duality, ebbing and flowing between abrasive metal heartlands and screaming vocals and fluid, spacious guitars and graceful singing. Vibe Check shows the band’s scope and soundscaping ability even more, the song fading out of intense onslaughts and into pastoral drifts. Dead Snow works demonic howls and sonic blasts into almost dream-pop territory.

The Ephemeral is an intriguing band and well-named, making music that always seems in transition, with sounds and styles existing briefly before being replaced by something else. And ironically, given their chosen name, this eclectic nature and creative vision will ensure they will be around for a very long time.