Last Poem/First Light
So Hideous

The only clue to the genre I have or any information I could find about the band comes from Bandcamp. They tag the album with the following: "Black Metal," "Post Metal," "Experimental," and "Ambient." So, we are going to have to let the music do the talking for us here. The album has six songs, and "Rising" is first. It roars out of the gate with vocal screams, dark and aggressive guitars, and an overall feeling of chaos and destruction. It's so loud and contentious, that when the sound drops towards the end, you feel a sense of relief. "Stabat Mater" begins with clean guitars and a good deal of tension. The tones are somber, and clean, and you have the sense that something lurks around the corner. Indeed, there is an explosion of sound that follows fast and furious. It retreats just as fast, to depressive piano tones. For me, it's like the fallout from a nuclear winter.
"My Light" is another song with a big entrance. It's also emotionally charged from an intensity of vocal screams and thick instrumentation that is dialed up as far as the knob will go, and then some. There is a brief reprieve before it roars back like a pack of dogs who haven't eaten in weeks. "Rhapsody" follows suit, only this time, the deep aggression also has depressive feelings. The band can shift between the two styles with ease, and whichever side they choose, they ram down your throat. The screaming vocals for instance remind me of a break with reality, and the voice in your head is always yelling and you can't turn it down or off, ever. Towards the end however, they let in some melody, and some light. "Last Poem" is much calmer, and the stormy skies and gusty winds are gone. Although there are still chilling vocal screams, you feel a sense of warmth from the music.
"Glory" is the final song, and it's aptly titled, because that is what you are left with following the intense rage of the album. There are still stormy skies, but the light streams in unfettered and without hindrance. It's so pretty, it makes my heart ache. Balance is key on the album. The aggression is off the charts, and the vocals can make your ears bleed, but the melodic tones are there to temper them, and each are offered with the same emotionally quality.
8 / 10
Excellent
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production

"Last Poem/First Light" Track-listing:
1. Rising
2. Stabat Mater
3. My Light
4. Rhapsody
5. Last Poem
6. Glory
So Hideous Lineup:
DJ Scully – Bass
Mike Kadnar – Drums, Percussion
Brandon Cruz – Guitars, Keyboards
Christopher Cruz – Vocals, Bass
Etienne – Guitars
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