The Belgian instrumental trio releases a sonorous, vibrant, emotive, and massive sophomore album blending musical styles into their take on Atmospheric Doom music.
The album opens with ”Dissolve” forming short, high-pitched sounds before a weighty cascade of slow and dense riffs strikes, and you are dragged into the massive sonics of Juneau´s music. It sends me right back to when the avalanches of Pelican´s first full-length Australasia (2003) overpowered me. And here we are 22 years later with Junau´s second outing with a brave and ambitious take on the genres it dips toes into with an oscillating, impenetrable atmosphere as well as with translucent glimpses while the music develops in undulating textures throughout the album.
The drums drive the music, punching forward with a generous use of cymbals. This first track shifts from cascading swells to delicate parts where crystals of melodic droplets are fast-dripping into the heavier, elegant sounds. It is as engaging and mighty as it is crushing in the heavier parts. There is also a streak of a higher-pitched guitar floating melodiously immersed in the surging flow from the two guitars. The movements from delicate to dense with soundbites deep in the depths of the sound, driven by versatile drums, are utterly captivating.
”Dissolve” sinks into soft-sounding guitars opening ”Observer” and strumming further while a distant bass drum is heard. The guitars change and the music swells, repeatedly heaving and sinking, driven by the drums. A swift turn with fast riffs brings the new part of the track. This is an immensely engaging part where the breathing riffs form a wave for a tremolo guitar to glide in between and in front of. Thus giving a sense of a surf guitar as it was played by Dick Dale to describe the feeling of surfing the waves. It is really well done with an energetic flow of music. One can almost envision the surfer in front of the large wave before it breaks, and just before the surfer is safe on the beach. Well, this is my interpretation, being a fan of early guitar Surf music; the intentions of the Juneau guys are probably something completely different. But anyway, immersing the sense of a surf guitar in the massive surges of the music is so well done and utterly fetching.
Delightful sound effects from the guitars fade in as an opener of ”Portals” upon rumbling drums, slowly forming a melodic theme as it levitates forward until it fuses into the fast and melodic thunderous riffing. It billows above the rhythm section with a shapeshifting quality before it turns into doomier parts with a high-pitched, cloudy and weigthless guitar repeating the melodic sound effects from the opening, balancing above the dense and stacked heaviness. The music is driven forward before it simmers down to an intricate and elegant melodic part to end the track, showing the musicians’ creative ability of making emotive parts, even when the music is slow and delicate.
”Heave” starts with heavy riffs at a fast pace and with brisk and diverse drumming, purveying the sense that the drummer performs a solo below the riffing guitars. It pushes excitement and a lot of energy into the music as it hurries and tumbles forward, swaying, swirling with outbursts on solo guitar strings. Out of the tumultuous, rushing music a melodic theme struggles to be heard, which makes it vastly engaging. The monolithic heaviness evaporates, and there is space for reprieve, a breather before it fuses back again with fast riffs and a higher soaring guitar.
The title track opens high and mighty with flying guitars and riffs, mighty and versatile. The higher-pitched guitar has a volatile sense as it swirls above the heavy surface laid out by the drums and a distorted guitar. The music simmers down to only reflective moments, gong-induced cymbals, bass drums, and an eerie bass-induced guitar, and a strumming clear guitar. With its alluring grace it is heavy, dark, and has a sense of Darkwave to it. The music fuses and swells back to a translucent crescendo pushed by the drums and changes into repetitive chugging parts, forming a melody in its path. Suddenly, it turns into blast beats with soaring guitars and heavy riffs, and it lashes forward into a denser part where the guitars spread out in a holding pattern before it melts into vigorous heaviness. The shapeshifting music is as energetic as it is captivating, as it works itself towards the end of the album with a tumultuous layering and translucent sonics building a crescendo that in the end fades away with sound effects.
In the landscape of Atmospheric Metal genres, Juneau with this album, has carved their rightful place between the genres´ giants such as Pelican, Russian Circles and even the delicate rawness of Amenra.
