Hailing from Portugal, Gaerea is one of the promising artists on the Transcending Obscurity roster. After a self-titled EP, the masked men of Gaerea are now ready to unleash their debut full length upon the world, called “Unsettling Whispers”. Starting with the mysterious and atmospheric “Svn”, the band gradually builds up intensity towards the final “Catharsis” over seven tracks with a total playing time of slightly over forty minutes.
Forty minutes of what exactly? While “Unsettling Whispers” is presented as a black metal album, it’s actually a very nice example of blackened hardcore. Dark, heavy and especially furious and ferocious, the genre is a relentless, uncompromising bitch always willing to punch you in the face. Gaerea fits this picture really well, although the band is a bit more atmospheric and we can clearly determine some influences from death and post metal. This makes Gaerea’s music less tiring than some other bands in the genre, while the intensity is equal and things never get boring. From the tormented vocals to the crunchy string work and pounding drums, the sound is always dark and super heavy and in terms of songwriting, Gaerea shows real promise, especially in “Catharsis”.
If you’re looking for some quiet music for enjoying a glass of red wine in front of the fireplace, “Unsettling Whispers” might not be the right choice for you, but if you feel like having a really intense experience, you should definitely give it a chance. Fans of The Secret and Celeste should not miss this release.
(8/10 Lykle Thijssen)
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