UNDER THE SHADOW OF A FOREIGN SUN

Formed in 2010 by guitarists Luiz Felipe Netto and Igor Meira, the group sought to conjure the introspective yet grandiose nature which can be found in the work of artists like Ihsahn, Opeth and Enslaved and there is no doubt that on their third album they are still working very much in that vein. After a brief stint as a trio in 2018 when they brought in a full-time drummer with whom they recorded their last album, they have gone back to being a duo with Netto providing vocals, guitars, keyboards and Meira guitars, bringing in a host of other musicians to assist them in fulfilling their vision. A special callout should go to Tony Lindgren (Leprous, Amorphis, Enslaved) as he mastered this and turned fully understood the brief.

As with their major influences, one is never sure quite where Piah Mater are going to go as some of the music is very dark and Black Metal in its approach, while others are far lighter (and indeed closing number "Canicula" commences as Brazilian folk music, sung in Portuguese), which is certainly very different indeed to the likes of "Follow Garden" which is quite Ihsahn in its attack. They can be incredibly brutal, with harshness and atmosphere, yet there is always a polish and shining light somewhere within the darkness which ensures the drama is always close at hand. The switch between gruff and sung vocals is especially powerful and poignant as they also bring in keyboards to provide depth as they move more into Fleshgod Apocalypse territory. Then in the middle of the album we have a nice interlude with "Macaw's Lament", a nice fingerpicking exercise which certainly does not normally belong on an album which contains such ferocity but here it is very poignant indeed. There is a great deal of depth on this release, with one never knowing quite where it is going to lead the listener, but the joy is in the journey. Well worth discovering.