Once upon a time there was a Muppet. Muppet told me of this band called Atlases, threatening me with an unforgiving death if I didn’t try out their debut full-length, Haar, which came out last year. I never did try the whole thing until now, but the selection of tracks I did sample were solid. Then, one day I noticed their name in the promo bin, and I thought to myself, “what are the odds?” So here we are, with a quick turnaround by the Finnish five-banger. Is Woe Portrait good enough to earn a recommendation from me and my ridiculously productive multitude of alter egos on this power-metal-obsessed blog?
First, a little history. Former Oceanwake guitarist Ville-Veikko Laaksonen formed Atlases in 2017, recruiting supporting members to flesh out the lineup (Jerkka Perälä on drums; Rami Peltola on bass; Nico Brander on second guitar; and Jani Lamminpää on the mic). Wasting no time at all, they put together a few singles, and split and an EP before releasing their debut Haar. The band show a considerable measure of maturity for such a fresh outfit, willing to trust their modern, highly atmospheric sound. They cite Hanging Garden and Ghost Brigade as parallels to their own style, but having little experience with either, I hear In Mourning and Deftones influences. I’m perfectly happy with this, and I suspect those who like frosty melodic death metal with a groovy edge will be happy with it as well.
Atlases puts a stomping foot forward with opener “Dreadlight.” At once crushing and gentle, the track features hooky riffs and plenty of post-metallic background, bolstered further by a variety of vocal styles. Going forward, the songs do their best when they attack fully and relax completely, as on “The Unsung Lament Part II – Silhouettes” and “Solarist.” Leveling post-metallic atmosphere with hard-hitting groove is no small task, but Atlases pull it off better than most thanks to smart timing and good transitions between elements. Additionally, most songs feel emotionally mature so far as I can tell (without a lyric sheet I cannot confirm the fullest extent of this maturity), which further engages me as a listener. Complex layering of effects and guitar tones allows each song to embrace a different aspect of the band’s character (note the change from “Solarist” to the closing track “Marta”). The modern polish that glazes over the top of the record gives it that new and shiny look, but thankfully the coating isn’t so thick as to cheapen or flatten the textured sound Atlases offer.
On the opposite side of those same coins, however, Woe Portrait struggles to attain the level of praise I so want to give. When riffs drop out of the overcast sky as they do, I remain impressed, but I spend most of my time waiting for the next drop instead of losing myself in the afterglow. Tracks fall away from heavy murk and retreat into the soft, comfortable caress of post-blackened mist. It’s frustrating only because the band’s ability to smoothly blend grittier tones with hypermodern chuggage so completely captures my attention that as I begin each new replay I forget how much more of that I want. Then the meandering of largely atmospheric songs “Halos,” “Eternia,” and “The Unsung Lament Part I – Apparition” pulls me back to reality. After such a cool entrance, these three numbers, placed in a cluster, leave me waiting amidst admittedly beautiful soundscapes for the next anvil to crash down to earth. In that time I progress from anticipation to uncertainty to disinterest. Thankfully, the second half picks up the ball and delivers a solid exit (although “Phoenix Trail” fails to stick in my brain at all).
Atlases‘ sophomore release represents a continuation of their existing palette, but it’s more refined and strengthened by bigger hooks. However, the tendency for atmospheric expanses to sap the record of energy still concerns me. I don’t want this aspect of their sound to disappear, but I do want it to contribute more to the proceedings. As it stands, Atlases need another element to bring more interest into the softer passages. I’ll be looking for them to deliver come album three.
Rating: 2.5/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Lifeforce Records
Websites: facebook.com/atlasesband | atlaseslfr.bandcamp.com
Releases Worldwide: October 23rd, 2020
