Inter Arma - Sky Burial (2013)

After hearing a lot about this album, I decided to check it out and I have to say I'm pretty impressed. It's a really diverse, interesting record that sways back and forth between feelings of utter bleakness and despair, and consolation and resignation. What I really love is how the record is so all-over-the-place in terms of influences (black metal, Neurosis, High on Fire, Earth, Mastodon etc.) yet it feels so coherent and flows so naturally. Another noteworthy talent this band possesses (and this kinda goes for all good post-metal bands) is the ability to forge a close connection between the lyrics and the music. The lyrics evoke a post-apocalyptic landscape and the music perfectly follows suit. The vocal style is one of the key elements here that not only helps bring to life this landscape in the listener's imagination, but also help give the band a unique identity. The lo-fi, black metal-esque vocals really help make the music all the more desolate and inhuman while simultaneously bringing the issues raised in the lyrics to the forefront and dealing with them in a direct, uncompromising fashion. If you still aren't convinced that 2013 is a renaissance year for post-metal then I highly suggest you check out this dark masterpiece.
9.25/10