Somehow, a disproportionate number of the promos I selected so far are debut records. I’m not sure if it’s coincidence or if I have some kind of n00b magnet in my brain somewhere, but one way or another fresh meat keeps passing through. The latest cut of which comes from Austin, Texas, and he calls himself Scaphoid. That’s right, this is a one-man project, courtesy of Matt Hobart. But it’s not raw atmo-black, no. This guy specializes in a post-rock prog-metal hybrid. With only a short EP under his belt, how fares his new, hour-long debut Absent Passages?
If you’re looking for something intense or aggressive, you won’t find it here. This is music for those who need to chill out or escape. Hobart’s creations are chimeric, woven with the fabric of myriad styles and structures. In this way, listeners might be able to draw a connection between Scaphoid and acts like Igorrr, but the conversation diverges quickly as their individual voices share little to nothing in common. I hear everything ranging from vaguely Latin acoustics to Avandra-esque leads to Latitudes-like tremolos to Pink Floyd-ian trance. At times Scaphoid throws in some chiptune and a weighty riff or three as well, just so you get a nice mini-shot of adrenaline to make this breezy ride a little more exciting.
Still, Absent Passages could use a little more kick. Everything offered is wonderfully meshed, but if you aren’t in the mood for what’s here nothing will convince you to stick around. Opener “Marauder” is a standout example of this phenomenon. Every now and then the track swept me away as light guitar leads shimmer above an undercurrent of downtuned chugs. Other times, my interest waned as I realized how stagnant its midsection feels. “None So Blind” also lacks that special something to raise my eyebrow or ensnare my focus. My theory is that while immaculately arranged, the song lacks emotion. “The Narrows,” coming in late in the tracklist, feels superfluous as well. It’s an interlude that’s too long to come across as an interlude, so I leave wondering what it was meant to do. Lastly, epic fifteen-minute closer “Infrastricken” wanders aimlessly for a significant portion of its runtime, leading me to phase out everything except the more engaging final third where he unleashes some of the cooler riffs and solos on the album.
Thankfully, the rest of the album is gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. Every layer, melody and beat delicately balance out the stark, lonely atmosphere that ensconces the listener moment to moment. Three songs in particular demonstrate the effectiveness of this strategy: “Melpomene,” “Celestial Ego,” and “The Coldness of Clarity.” The first in this triad immediately enraptures me with a novel space-desert rock amalgam, somehow conveying the bitter cold of outer space and the warmth of the morning sun in concert. A lone piano adds emotional gravity to the song as it morphs from atmosphere to action, where a great riff/solo combo fills out the second half. “Celestial Ego” is more grounded in metal aesthetics, using chiptune melodies to transport the listener to a futuristic locale which still feels cohesive next to the previous companion track. Finally, “The Coldness of Clarity” proves the power of subtle layering in portraying a sense of foreboding. This cut feels more sinister than any of the others, which makes the post-black trem-picking all that more impactful as it faces off with the gentle acoustic guitar.
Scaphoid comes close to sealing the deal as Absent Passages offers a lot to its audience. It’s a beautiful piece, one that Matt Hobart should celebrate with pride, but it’s far from perfect. Despite containing some of the most effective atmospheric songwriting I’ve heard outside of the extreme metal circle this year, there is much to be honed and a lot of ballast to unload. Therefore, I withhold a full recommendation, with the caveat that when the mood strikes, don’t leave Absent Passages to gather dust on the shelf. It’s worth checking out.
Rating: 2.5/5.0
DR: 8 | Format Reviewed: 192 kbps mp3
Label: Shunu Records
Websites: facebook.com/scaphoidmusic | scaphoid.bandcamp.com
Releases Worldwide: October 9th, 2020
