Isaurian – The Pulsing Rush
Isaurian – The Pulsing Rush
Self-Released
25/10/2024
Running Time: 40:05
Review by Oli Gonzalez
9/10
“A production period plagued by personal issues” is how the Brazilian Doomgaze/Post-Metal described their preparation for their latest release, “The Pulsing Rush”. The manner that the band have overcome these personal losses and over major setbacks is admirable and I for one am glad that the members did not give up in the face of such adversity and I am one of the privileged ones who get to marvel at this fine record before it hits the market. I’m fairly sure that the unsigned status could change if that band wish to go that way. Given the resources they had available to them in production, they utilised every one to maximum effect, with producers and engineers having worked with the likes of Mastadon, Emma Ruth Rundle, and Caspian. What makes this album so special? Let’s see…
First up, ‘Heart Like A Curse’. Well, the vocals are absolute huge from the outset and immediately grab your attention! Epic and larger than life, in the same vein as Candlemass. Even bigger riffs and the combined beauty and the beast duet of Jorge and Hoanna is wonderful! Light can only shine brightest in the dark after all! What an epic start! ‘Godlike’ offers more of a shoegaze and melancholic approach to the music, with Hoanna’s vocals more ethereal and haunting rather than smashmouth and in your face like the previous track. This is doom metal at its finest and gets you right in the feels! Though maybe the producers were a little liberal with the reverb effects at times?
The Shoegazey and melancholic feel continues into ‘Carved Earth’. The tension is palpable here with dark Gothic style vocals with grim bleak undertone. This is moody, solemn and bleak. And I’m loving it! Are we building towards some huge climax? I hope so. That may well be coming. The mood shifts to a more primitive angst and sense of desperation, especially given the tone of his vocals. As I had predicted, the guitars get heavier and meatier, in beautiful synergy with some soaring leads in the songs climax. Though this is anything but formulaic and certainly worth the wait.
This has been a journey so far. An experience!
‘Pale Blue Dot’ offers respite in a much more calm melodic affair. Actually no, I’m underselling this. This is a wonderfully enchanting soul piercing instrumental affair that stirs up feelings of tranquillity and calmness within you. The kind of track you’d expect to hear in a reiki workshop!
The drums and bass get their chance to shine in the intro to ‘Primal Life’ and are a mainstay in a song that features hypnotic riffs that threaten to consume you. This is delightful. The return of beauty and beast harsh and soothing vocal duet is welcome to the auditory palette too.
Business is restored with the distorted guitars forcing their way back into consciousness during ‘Great Hunger’, with the gentle ethereal vocals providing a wonderful juxtaposition to the harshness. The melodic focus shifts to the intelligent introduction of the keys and some mind piercing glass like lead guitarist. Whoever wrote this knows their way around a pedal board! That ending solo! Ooof! That replayed a few, no, several times! Gnarly! That’s it. That’s all I can say about what is clearly the highlight of this track. Tone enthusiasts listen to this. You won’t be disappointed.
Sadly, we know it’s going to be over very soon as the final song ‘Mumurations’ enters our consciousness. Shifting slightly to a more rhythmic quality but still with the focus on ethereal bleakness and candid raw emotion. This seems so consistent with the previous songs and reinforcing that bands identity yet still retaining an aura of freshness. It feels like a much calmer manner in which to end the album that in some ways has been an assault on the senses.
That’s it then. No need for overly complicated analysis. If you like Doom, Post-Metal or just want something different, listen to this album!
TRACKLISTING:
01. Heart Like a Curse
02. Godlike
03. Carved Earth
04. Pale Blue Dot
05. Primal Life
06. Great Hunger
07. Murmurations
LINE-UP:
Jorge Rabelo – Guitars, Vocals, Keys
Hoanna Aragão – Vocals
Guilherme Tanner – Guitars
Roberto Tavares – Drums
Renata Marim – Bass
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Oli Gonzalez and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
