The year 2020 may have been the year of consecration for Portuguese Gaerea, a black metal outfit born in Oporto in 2016. Having released their debut EP in 2016 and first full length in 2018, Gaerea released their claustrophobic and unsettling sophomore album Limbo in the middle of the pandemic. Eliran Kantor's cover perfectly depicts the title with wandering and suffering souls in an existential slime, also beautifully described in the lyrics. Musically speaking, Limbo is a sonic monolith of Behemothian memory on which Gaerea weaves different textures, from the heavy grove to guitar leads in tremolo picking and arpeggios. They intertwine the furious and the meditative, as in the long opener “To Ain”, and some death metal vibes, as in “Urge”. The rhythm section is frightening; in particular, the heavy, relentless drums are the gravitational centre from which the intricate and harrowing layers of the songs unfold. All this is sealed by desperate vocals. Gaerea is now with Limbo a new star in the black metal firmament, and their seminal new album is truly something to listen to.
Notes:
Limbo was released on July 24, 2020 via Season of Mist as CD, double vinyl, and digital release; a cassette will be released on February 5, 2021.
Personnel:
Unknown
Text by Herjann
[email protected]
Notes:
Limbo was released on July 24, 2020 via Season of Mist as CD, double vinyl, and digital release; a cassette will be released on February 5, 2021.
Personnel:
Unknown
Text by Herjann
[email protected]
