“Recorded in the woods of Daknam”, we are told in the sleeve notes. I guess the grey and murky place in the cover picture is Daknam. The fuzzy ambient post rock haze which opens up this substantial work from this Belgian band would seem to come from this place. As one would hope, the soundscape develops and in an interesting way. The raucous cries and post metal build up are from the world of Cult of Luna without a doubt. But it’s not done in straight lines. The big chords and sludgy violence gives way to moments of minimalism and then we’re back in that overwhelmingly grey world again. “Het Dodenhuis” (The Killing House) is powerful and violent but controlled. As the cosmic sounds expand, there is time to linger and reflect on the smell of death. Majestic control is exercised as long and echoing sound waves sweep across the scene. The drum crawls and there’s an undercurrent of bass to remind us constantly of the sombre scene. “Zielsondergang” (Soul Demise) plods on sadly and impressively. The progression and subtle deviations within this grey and mechanical heartbeat bring clear visions and analogies with Cult of Luna to me. But the build up is as impressive, breaking off to slow down before punishing us with more big chords and violence from beyond the human domain. What is interesting is that the immensity occurs in waves. We are brought back and like a storm or a natural force, there are massive expanses. As we move to “Dageraad” (Dawn), the drum beats quietly and echoes resound as if it’s the calm before the inevitable storm. Progress is hypnotic and trance-like. Minimalism prevails, for a long period, maybe a bit too long. Finally and predictably the power surge happens, but it’s done sensitively and expansively so there is a tinge of melancholy in the tumultuous atmosphere. The scene goes quiet but there is an expectant buzz as the guitar shimmers eerily. And so this atmospheric work ends.
I suggest to you that Daknam is a scary place where as humans we have no place in the face of natural forces. Charnia pull off the force of massive electric fields and scenes of mystical happenings with their swathes of sludge. They do share this territory with other bands, but “Dageraad” is born of imagination and fear and sensitivity, and succeeds in conveying an awesome atmosphere.
(8/10 Andrew Doherty)
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