CARONTTE

The balance of the extremes in mood and the moderation between them gives AGATS variety and depth that lends it more uniqueness and holds the concentration. The two short songs rely on either one or the other in terms of lightness/heaviness, and the amount of sounds that Carontte is able to pull from helps keep their more frequent longer epics more interesting and dynamic. Right from the opening chord of Grey, they immediately create a bleak, almost post-apocalyptic atmosphere favorited by bands like Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Altar of Plagues, a feeling that Carontte often revisits throughout AGATS. Meanwhile on songs From Red Horizons and Weak, they pull largely from the bright, clean, and uplifting post-rock of Explosions in the Sky. Carontte's songwriting is also stronger than many other bands of their ilk. Some groups write songs of length but don't know how to keep the listener's attention (or gain it in the first place), but this is not a problem with Carontte. Of the seven songs on AGATS, five of them pass the eight minute mark, and the band is able to keep them fairly interesting, using their sound that encompasses the entire spectrum of post-rock/metal, to their advantage as there is enough variety within it to allow for dynamics. The vocals, inconsistent in their style and presence, still do help AGATS pop out more, and are wont to grab the attention, just like the first chord of Grey. The long songs rely more on numerous small peaks throughout their runtimes rather than one dramatic finish.

AGATS does not truly progress the post-rock and metal genres but instead summarizes and fuses their best elements, with the help of engaging songwriting. The exploration of the full spectrum of heaviness and its upbeat to depressing moods makes this woefully underrated and obscure album shine. If you can handle some harsh vocals and you're searching for more post-rock/metal, do yourself a favor and listen to this. It isn't quite perfect and I am rounding up to five stars, but AGATS definitely deserves more attention.