SUMMIT

The album cover looks like something out of Lord Of The Rings. I still remember the buzz over their debut back in 2014 an album that ended up in third place on the collaborator's end of year list. Two years later came "Contrapasso" and this is my favourite. I feel like this 6 piece let their hair down here and while trying new things doesn't work out most of the time, here it does. A long seven year wait for "Summit" their third studio record which will no doubt be placed high on many year end lists. That VDGG/KC("Islands") sound continues. This band can be very powerful and they have a vocalist who graduated as an opera singer from one of the musical academies in Norway during that hiatus. The keyboardist is still here thankfully but became part of ENSLAVED during the break.

Only four tracks worth around 44 minutes and that opener "Hunter" is my favourite. In fact I could pick one song off of each of their three albums that would be my three favourite songs by them. "God Left Us For A Black Dressed Woman" from "City Of The Sun", "Lemma" from "Contrapasso" and "Hunter" from "Summit". "Hunter" is powerful and intense and that's just the lyrics. Hey the music too and man this guy can sing, so theatrical and would be a great Goth singer. You want to hear how heavy this band can get checkout this song after 8 minutes where we get to doom-like heaviness. Interesting quick riffs follow around 9 1/2 minutes in with organ over top. The words though, it's a gripping piece.

"Hydra" like the opener is 10 1/2 minutes long. Nice bass early and some fast riffs, sax too. There's a strange KING GIZZARD sound to this early on within the first five minutes that I cant ignore. Piano only before 6 minutes then it explodes with sax and more. Fast riffs are back. I like the final minute, quite uplifting. "Ikaros" was the single they released first and ironically my least favourite of the four tunes. Still a very good track that can get fairly dense. Some distorted guitar late, lots of sax.

The closer "Sisyphus" is the longest at 13 1/2 minutes. Man those deep vocals have character don't they as he almost speaks the words early on. Turns heavy with organ around 2 1/2 minutes before it all becomes smooth with vocals. Not into this or the similar vibe after 8 minutes. More heaviness and calms as this plays out. Another very good studio album from these guys. So impressed with the whole package here. A solid 4 stars.