MP3: Kausal - Evac
Isis announced their impending breakup last week which leaves a vast emptiness in the world of post-metal. Who will fill the void? Perhaps it could be Kausal -- they're one of the few bands I've heard of this ilk who seem to be charting their own path rather than stride down the tired, tried and true. Like countrymates Logh, they take many cues from solemn art-pop and evoke much of that band's same dark loneliness and longing, but they take it in a different direction by building on heavy repetition and incorporating subtle elements of improv. "Evac" shows them at one of their most accessible moments, as much of their debut album "In dead cities" is built on sprawling instrumentals, but there is still plenty of oomph in their sound, most notably in that huge kick and that cyclic and-one-and rhythmic pattern. The heavy mood is crucial too; in fact, I'd even say that's the most important aspect of getting this post-metal thing right. If you can still feel the weight of darkness pressing down during the most lush or quiet moments, you win. Kausal does, thus they earn my praise. I've generally felt positive towards everything I've heard from before, but this is by far the best of the lot.
Kausal - Evac