Ba’al – Soft Eyes EP
Ba’al – Soft Eyes EP
Ripcord Records
Release Date: 03/04/24
Running Time: 27:03
Review by Oli Gonzalez
8/10
There’s many a positive word that can be said about the black metal scene in the UK at present. Festivals curated specifically for the genre are thriving, such as Fortress Festival and Cosmic Void, as well as the likes of Damnation and Incineration providing a platform for established international heavyweights and up and coming bands alike. Sheffield’s Ba’al are seemingly closer to the latter end of that spectrum, though have a respectable list of accolades to their name. This includes national tours and festival appearances to their name. Will their upcoming release “Soft Eyes” give them the necessary boost to edge further towards the opposite end of that spectrum, and land additional festival slots? That remains to be seen, and will depend on the strength of “Soft Eyes”. The signs are promising though, especially upon reading of the lengths the band have gone to in producing this EP. Having enlisted the likes of Joe Clayton and Brad Boatright at various stages of the production process, this a real statement of intent given the list of bands the two have worked with, including but not certainly not limited to the likes of Obituary, Ithaca, and Conjurer. Bands I genuinely admire, thus making me more excited to get my hands on this EP, and seeing what Ba’al’s blackened post-metal experience will consist of.
First, it’s ‘Ornament Doll’. Right off the bat, I’m loving those melodic guitar flavours popping through brightly in the mix. I’ve been drawn to bands such as Fen and Winterfylleth lately, given their ability to introduce an appealing aesthetic quality to their music whilst maintaining that much needed black metal ferocity and intensity. Ba’al do exactly the same, and it’s fantastic! I’m also picking up on subtle drone elements, with a much more solid groove and stoner style rhythmic foundation, much in the style of Batushka. Forget 250bpm+ blast beats. As cool as they are, sometimes you just need something you can viciously whip your head back and forth to whilst pulling your dirtiest stank face. Trust me, you’ll be doing that when you listen to “Soft Eyes”.
I’m really drawn to the complexity of the structure and compositional approach here. The dynamics shift from fierce black metal intensity that slaps you right in the chops, right to more subtle ambient and melodic passages. With this being said, the final 90 seconds or so consists of …well, I don’t really know how to describe it. Drones? Electronics? In either case, I’m not sure what it really adds to the song and is a bit uncomfortable to listen to, like a washing machine rumbling away in the background when you’re trying to concentrate on other tasks. Vocally, I’m a little divided too. The lower range guttural vocals are fierce, and the cleaner vocals are a welcome addition seldom seen in the genre. The higher pitch shrieks sadly lack clarity and diction, and pale in comparison to Joe’s aforementioned gutturals. Overall though, this is a promising start and I’m becoming sold on Ba’al so far.
Things become sinister and austere in the opening for ‘Yearn To Burn Bright’. Like the score from a horror movie, there’s an intimidating aura in the air, creating suspense as we build towards a crescendo. Joe’s lower range gutturals are introduced, before being backed by a wall of guitar noise, distorted and thicker than treacle. There’s a wonderful tapestry of textures and patterns interweaving. Just witnessing how they’re all slowly introduced into the mix is a thing of beauty! The aforementioned crescendo comes at around the 4:30 mark, coming in the form of an explosive blast-beat inspired frenzy! This is juxtaposed elegantly with the melodic masterclass of the guitars; another thing of beauty! For the first time on the record, we see the introduction of synths, providing a fresh melodic focal point and adding much welcome depth and dimension to the track. A fine way to close out the track!
The first and only song to surpass the 10 minute mark, the EP’s final track ‘Bamber Bridge’ opens with a subtle electronic passage. This track also sees the band venture down the progressive-metal avenue, especially with the ambient and psychedelic properties of the guitar tones. The opening few minutes are honestly something I’d expect from a Dream Theatre record, and demonstrates how versatile Ba’al are as a collective of musicians. I’ve seen Bossk incorporate similar passages on tracks such as Kobe. Rather than trying to impress you with their compositional skills though, they will do this to butter you up gently, leading you into a delicate trance before smashing your softened senses with pulverising walls of sound! Ba’al do the same here, and sharply increase the intensity after this progressive passage, assaulting your ear drums with wave after wave of blackened metal goodness. All after you’ve been lulled into a relaxed state!
Those grooves designed to induce a wave of headbanging return later in the song, adding a distinct progressive metal flavour. The song progresses towards a round of blazing shoegaze inspired guitar leads, soaring elegantly over a soundscape dripping in raw atmospherics. Guitar leads that demand to be played on full volume to be given the admiration they deserve. ‘Bamber Bridge’ closes out with a more relaxed and tranquil guitar passage, offering you respite and a chance to return to a semblance of normality. Then, it’s over.
Earlier, I posed the question regarding the progression of Ba’al and their career trajectory. Whilst there are some minor creases to iron out and some degree of refinement required on future releases, “Soft Eyes” will undoubtedly enhance the band’s reputation, offering a breath of fresh air and much needed originality in a fiercely stacked genre. An ode to the depth of talent in the UK’s Black Metal scene, “Soft Eyes” is essential listening for lovers of Extreme Metal who crave something that goes off the beaten path.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Ornamental Doll
02. Yearn To Burn Bright
03. Bamber Bridge
LINE-UP:
Joe Stamps – Vocals
Richard Spencer – Bass
Nick Gosling – Guitar
Chris Mole – Guitar
Luke Rutter – Drums
LINKS:
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