Reviews

Album review: Gaerea – Loss

Enigmatic Porto philosophers Gaerea adventure far beyond the black on fifth album Loss…

Album review: Gaerea – Loss
Words:
Olly Thomas

Gaerea’s public image is dominated by a purposeful anonymity. Nameless members, wearing masks onstage, that sort of thing. But there’s no obscuring their intentions on this fifth album. Loss is a bold swing for the big leagues from a band determined not to be tethered by their black metal roots.

The weightless electronic pop of LBRNTH alone would have been enough to damn Gaerea for heresy in ’90s Scandinavia, but the dominant mode here is an adventure into modern metalcore at its slickest. Submerged dextrously slips between introspective interludes and high-impact heaviness, while Phoenix proves both accessible and utterly bludgeoning.

Elsewhere, there are times when the unnamed frontman’s clean vocals echo the phrasing of Architects’ Sam Carter, and indeed Loss can often feel like that band, of their early years had involved as much influence from Behemoth and Dimmu Borgir as Botch and Dillinger. As with that band’s evolution, Gaerea’s dark sound feels well-equipped for an upwardly mobile trajectory, particularly on anthemic opener Luminary and the undeniably banging Hellbound.

There’s even a ballad of sorts in closer Stardust, its super-smooth intro arguably a step too far even when the distorted guitars eventually kick in. For the far greater part, though, Loss balances blastbeats and broad appeal with genuine skill.

And while the band’s sigil masks hide their true identities, Gaerea’s lyrics delve deeply into their innermost feelings. Suffice to say that Submerged and Cyclone don’t deal with watery peril or meteorological phenomena, but rather their emotional equivalents. The deployment of such relatable themes is yet another way for the Portuguese enigmas to consolidate their commercial potential. Gaerea seem set on promotion to metal’s premier league, and Loss makes that development far from inconceivable.

Verdict: 3/5

For fans of: Lorna Shore, Architects, Orbit Culture

Loss is released on March 20 via Century Media.

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