I love pro wrestling, and I’ll watch anything. But extreme death matches do nothing for me at all. I get why people like them, and I’ve seen ones that I can acknowledge have an artistic quality to them even if they’re never going to be my thing. I even think a lot of them end up being decent matches, but sometimes the orgy of violence makes me feel nothing.
Weird way, admittedly, to start talking about “Loss,” the fifth LP from Portuguese power Gaerea, but it’ll make sense in a moment. For the last couple release, the band—vocalist Alpha, guitarists Beta and Delta, bassist Rho, drummer Xi—added to their black metal foundation a lot of gloss, big hooks, and elements that sound like they’re heading for Ghost territory of building a massive audience. And honestly, they deserve more eyes and ears on their product. This records sounds incredible. The massive choruses should melt hearts. I imagine their shirts dotting Hot Topic shelves. That’s not an insult. I bought a Kreator shirt at a HT. But this record feels directed at that audience that is much younger than I. You might guess from my intro and the last few sentences that I’m not into this record. I’m not. I actually hated it first listen. But going back more times, it made me see the power of this album and band. It isn’t for me, and that’s OK. For both Gaerea and me. We can be nice to each other even if we’re not cosmically aligned.
“Luminary” begins steamy before trudging, yells belting, then a storming chorus breaking through the surface. As noted, there are massive choruses all over this thing. Hammering force keeps the colors blazing, grim screams lashing, the drums pounding as melodies glisten. “Submerged” has plinking keys and a mashing fury, ripping with titanic force, the singing overwhelming. The temperatures cool, bringing down the lights, the singing turning sleeker, the pace gushing with power. “Hellbound” starts in dreamy waters before igniting, howls smashing as fiery leads scorch the ground, the chorus feeling like a hurricane blast. The band ramps up even further, singing bursting as Alpha wails, “I burn like fire!” as the tidal waves overwhelm. “Uncontrolled” has muddier riffs and punishes, a tougher chorus overwhelming, bristling as the bass trudges. The pace batters harder, Alpha jabbing, “Nothing’s what it seems,” as the leads soar and the ending blurs.
“Phoenix” blasts open, the verses chewing muscle, the chorus drizzling with saccharine melodies, everything feeling huge. Lyrically, the track takes on a more defiant tone, Alpha declaring, “Now you know I’m here to stay,” guitars spilling over, the energy lingering in the air. “Cyclone” is cold when it dawns, softer singing trickling, feeling more delicate before the power jars. The leads turn moodier, and then they take off, surging and catapulting, storming to the end. “LBRNTH” is a short, largely instrumental piece that arrives on sunbeams, synth thickening as a female voice calls into the night, giving off a nighttime vibe. “Nomad” barrels in with a similar formula to what preceded it, verses ripping, the chorus feeling like it’s going to burst through clouds. “Carrying a weight that I’ll never show,” Alpha calls, guitars swarming, cleaner notes trickling like a streak of blood in the mud, the final moments glimmering. Closer “Stardust” is the longest track at 7:59, and it starts with startlingly poppy singing, keys dripping and some weird-ass whisper rapping going on. They tear out of that, clap beats stinging, a gazey burst overwhelming, roars gushing with effusive emotion. Keys rain as Alpha asks, “Are you still with me?” the intensity cooling, more delicate singing crawling as the final notes melt away.
Gaerea have been headed down the path that led them to “Loss” for some time now, and this record sure sounds like them aiming for the moon and welcoming more devotees into their orbit. The record sounds great, the performances are top notch, and fore sure this record should appeal to a lot more people. I’m not one of them, and this album really doesn’t do a thing for me, but I’m bound to be in the minority here. I won’t be surprised if this is on a lot of year-end lists, so I’ll accept this current Gaerea is beyond me.
For more on the band, go here: https://www.gaerea.com/
To buy the album, go here: https://gaerea.lnk.to/Loss-Album
For more on the label, go here: https://www.centurymedia.com/
Meat Mead Metal 