Epistasis — Light Through Dead Glass
A six song EP is nice introduction to most bands, give a taste of what they’re about and see if there is any interest. In Epistasis’ case that is truly the understatement of the year. In six songs we are introduced to a powerhouse of creativity. How rare is it that every song you listen to from a band is an absolute gem. From the first track “Time’s Vomiting Mouth”, with its bursts of dissonant guitars to the closer, the fantastically heavy and avant jazz din of “Gown of Yellow Stars” and every song in between is a lesson of timing, talent and innovation. Heavy riffs are tempered with incredible drumming. Trumpets are well placed with bursts of unrestrained discordant melodies. The presence of a very talented bass player is united with relentless time changes. Songs like “Finisterre” brilliantly showcase avant garde sounds (think Virus and Voivod) with loosely contained bedlam. “Witch” is an excellent example of unrestrained black metal that unites incredible time changes with bombastically ferocious music. “Grey Ceiling” shows another side to Epistasis, with gentle acoustic guitars and trumpet. It doesn’t sound so interesting when you read that but the depressive and murky darkness that it is able to convey silences all doubt.
Vocals too are just the right amount of chaos and emotion. Screaming, rasping and fierce; it is a beautiful compliment to the music, forcing us the listener, into a downward spiral of wild darkness. The barely controlled madness, the musical finesse and enormously ominous atmosphere all fuse to become one of best, if not the best releases of 2014. Bits of inspiration from bands like Mayhem, Blut Aus Nord and Virus are heard throughout but none of that overshadows Epistasis’ own brilliant talent.