One of the most important lessons a writer (and maybe all Metal fans should do the same) must learn as soon as possible is to become used to common musical works. This lesson will open the mind, and liking something or not, the inner value of a kind of music will become undeniable. This is what fans must have in mind when dealing with “Stillness and Trust”, the new release of IFALL. One thing must be known before anything: the band is the brainchild of Caio Duarte, a Brazilian musical producer/musician/writer/film director/film producer/screenwriter and others now living in London, known for his works with DYNAHEAD (look for the albums “Chordata I” and “Chordata II” to have a deeper dive into his unusual musical creativity) and many others.

On the album, his musical insight goes from Folk Music to Progressive Rock, Psychedelic Rock to Avant-garde tendencies, and even from World Music to the use of acoustic Brazilian Folk music elements (as heard on “Temple of You”), and heavier parts can be heard as well. Sometimes introspective and tender, on others heavier and intense, it’s chaotic and seductive, charming and different, and the tendency is to be immersed completely by the band’s music. In few words: it’s great!!! The sonority was created by Caio (again, he is a known and skilled musical producer who already worked with bands as MIASTHENIA, ARANDU ARAKUAA, AGE OF ARTEMIS, MORK, DYNAHEAD, FLASHOVER, OMFALOS, HARLLEQUIN and many others), who took in hands the production, mixing and mastering of “Stillness and Trust”. And it sounds clean and defined, both in introspective and heavier parts, a perfect work for the band’s music.

One can have many bands names in mind (THE BEATLES, JETHRO TULL, Mile Davis, DIXIE DREGS, Bob Dylan, and many others) as the album plays. And there are many emotions flowing as the hearers have to deal with “Steel and Ills” (the Jazz Rock/Progressive Rock ambiences guided by some broken rhythms of bass guitar and drums are great), “Air” (this one combines elements of World Music with Folk Music under a strong Progressive Rock tack, with excellent tender vocals), “Temple of You” (the Brazilian Folk music influences are clearly on the acoustic guitar), “Heed Within” (here electric guitar parts are heard, evoking something into a Prog Metal way, but soon the Prog Rock side starts to contrast with it, with rich instrumental parts), “The Hunger and the Thirst” (wow, what great contrasts between pianos and keyboards arrangements, and tender ambiences with acoustic guitars), “Sol Ipsis” (another moment with Prog Metal elements and tender melodies contrast with the acoustic moments, with rich arrangements and very good vocals), and “Mount Mistake” (a touch of old Synthpop and New Romantic can be felt entangling with World Music/Folk Music elements). All is a true travel into lyrical conceptions with only one goal: to speak about the teachings Caio aspires to leave to his children.

“Stillness and Trust” is an excellent work, indeed, but to deal with IFALL’s music, one must leave the security of the shores of music to sail into unknown and deeper waters…