As you all know, we at Tuonela Magazine mainly support local bands, but once in a while, we find a hidden gem we like to share with you guys.
Hailing from Belgium ourselves, we thought it would be appropriate to introduce post-metal/post-rock band WANHEDA‘s debut EP – “The Cenozoic Implosion” – to you.
The Cenozoic is the latest geological era on the geologic time scale, also called the Age of Mammals, because it is dominated by large mammals, such as… us humans.
“The Cenozoic Implosion” thus means the collapse of said era, and could possibly relate to current global issues such as climate change, atomic energy, and epidemics.
The listener can interpret these themes the way they see fit, as a melancholic ode to past eras in which nature was still flourishing, a testament of fears for the future, or maybe even a warning about how the world is heading toward its own destruction.
This EP is almost entirely instrumental (only “The Gathering of One” has vocals), but the band doesn’t necessarily need lyrics to convey the strong emotions connected to their signature sound. The beauty of this is that the listener has the freedom to feel any feeling that comes to heart while listening, ranging from sadness to euphoria. The EP’s theme might be on the darker side, but the melodic riffs set the tone and create a dreamy, almost psychedelic atmosphere that leaves plenty of room for interpretation. The contrast comes from the powerful drums, especially in songs such as “An Unquiet Ethos”, another wake-up call for humankind in its own way. “The Fissures of Humanity” closes the EP epically, with strong elements that reminded me of the implosion in the title.
With this memorable debut, WANHEDA created a thirty-minute trip into the dreamy world of Belgian post-rock. For me, this is one of those records I put on when I want to let my thoughts simply run their course, or as the perfect background music to a creative process. If you are into the post-metal/post-rock genre, if you like to discover and rediscover new layers in the music, or if you simply need a moment alone with your thoughts, check this one out.
TRACKLIST
- An Unquiet Ethos
- Exploring Systems
- Luminous
- The Gathering of One
- The Fissures of Humanity
LINE-UP
Jan Boucké – Guitar
Jan Verduyckt – Guitar
Nick Van Vynckt – Bass
Maurits Elzinga – Drums
Jasper Simon – Keys
Jan Peeters – Production / Guitars
LINKS
https://www.facebook.com/wanhedaband
