The relatively new prog squad, ALASE, responsible for releasing the absolute best Finnish metal album last year, are back with a 4-track EP entitled “Beyond Our Imagination.” Released on February 23rd, 2024, via Inverse Records, this new endeavor showcases entirely new slants on the band’s signature sound, especially in the video single, “Love Crime,” a duet between guitarist-vocalist Janne Lunnas and Rioghan Darcy of RIOGHAN. Speaking of vocals, this EP features the vocal power of two more guest vocalists – Juha Tretjakov (VANSIDIAN, PRESSURE POINTS, VANSIDIAN) and Omar Zouiter (ANTIVALENT) – so it is no surprise that each song fires on all cylinders.
Opening the EP, “Broken Pendulum” sets things afoot on a slightly djenty vibe. Vocal parts alternate between clean vocals, courtesy of Omar Zouiter, and harsh vocals by Lunnas, setting the bar rather high from the get-go. Halfway into the song, a nice electronic break creates a haunting contrast to the off-kilter riffing. Djenty polyrhythms and electronic atmospheres are a match made in heaven if you ask me.
Djenty duets have not exactly been in vogue, lately, despite the nothing short of a sublime cover rendition of the Billie Eilish & Khalid collaboration, “Lovely,” by TIME, THE VALUATOR and Charlotte Buchholz from a few years ago. ALASE, reinforced with the vocal power of Darcy, show that there is quite a lot to be gained from tapping into this particular vein. “Love Crime” is the undisputed centerpiece of the EP – dark and atmospheric, yet as brazenly catchy as you could reasonably expect a prog-metal banger to be. In a perfect world, this banger would be all over the radio.
Next, ALASE side-steps into the realm of atmospheric doom, with Tretjakov lending his vocal prowess to the last two remaining songs. First, “When” explores the murky depths of emotions with an almost SWALLOW THE SUN-like airbrushed gloom. It is easy to imagine that this beast will be a real killer in the band’s live sets to come. The closer, “A Night to Remember” plunges even deeper into the depths, with some electronic flourishes and twangy guitars to top it off. It is no small feat to create such an epic arc over the course of just four tracks. This goes to show that last year’s “A Matter of Time” was not just a random stroke of luck. This band is THE SHIT, to put it in vernacular terms. I have a feeling that I would do myself a huge favor by checking out this band on stage as soon as I can.
Written by Jani Lehtinen
Tracklist
- Broken Pendulum
- Love Crime
- When?
- A Night to Remember
Lineup
Janne Lunnas – guitars, vocals
Ari Miettinen – bass
Ville Aatsinki – drums
Label
Inverse Records
