Toying with conceptions of reality, Silver Screens comes to us from Ivan with a mind bending take on the doom genre. That is to say “doom.” This one might take some explaining…
Silver Screens, from the opening moments of the title track features all the hallmarks of a fine funeral doom album. Gut rumbling riffs and static drums abound, creating a bleak atmosphere of chilling despair. Vocals are pondering and anguished. But it’s around the five minute mark that things… take a turn. A wonderful, glorious turn. Almost seamlessly, the tone of the track shifts to a much more romantic, at times triumphant feeling that is truly unlike anything to be found in the doom metal genre past or present. Bells and strings overtake the churning guitar work, creating something entirely new to me, and something very, very welcome at that.
The album continues in this vein, at times going even further off model (the 80’s jazz pop of penultimate track “Underneath The Tapestry” comes to mind). The loveliness of the violin and bells returns at several perfectly placed moments to break up any monotony that may arise from the trappings of the genre, making for one of the most well rounded releases I’ve heard in a very long time. The feels abound across Silver Screens‘ entire run time, taking the listener on an emotional rollercoaster with just as many peaks as plummets, a sound that to my knowledge really hasn’t been tapped in doom music before.
As I write this, I have only moments ago finalized my 2020 Top Ten list, committing myself to sending it without any further stress of deliberation. This Australian troupe should be aware that they only missed a top five spot by about twenty minutes. This thing is a trip. Everyone needs to listen to it, like it or not, just to check out the cool things these guys are doing. I implore you to give this one a listen.
Release date: June 19th, 2020
https://www.facebook.com/IvanBandAU
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