Earthrise // Eras Lost

When ISIS broke up part of my world fell apart. Not many metal bands could command instant respect like they could. Part of what made them so great was that they tried to set themselves apart; so much so that people had a hard time classifying them. This resulted in an increasing usage of the tag “post-metal” or as ISIS liked to put it, “thinking man’s metal.” Looking back you can trace the inception of the sub-genre further back, but ISIS certainly gave it a kick in the pants.

So here we are in a post-ISIS world and post-metal lives on. One of the most surprisingly awesome submissions I’ve gotten in a while is from a new post-metal band called Earthrise. Now I’m not going to hail them as the second coming of ISIS (I would never put that much pressure on someone), but these guys are good… really good. Everything that they do on this album is intentional and thoughtfully planned out. From the gorgeous artwork, to the crystal clear production, to the beautiful instrumentals, to the way that the album is constructed; Earthrise stands out.

Now there is no denying it, this album gets pretty dark in spots; but overall it is such a beautiful release. This isn’t metal that is meant to be headbanged to (although you totally could if you want), no this is metal that is intended to be played, dissected, and admired. Their debut Era’s Lost is a robust chunk of music. Clocking in at around an hour the thing is a lot to digest in one sitting, and yet it plays through like a beast. Plus the guys know that no one can tolerate being obliterated for an hour straight. So throughout the album you’ll find little oases where you can catch your breath, get refocused, and prepare yourself for the next onslaught. It’s a move that has the listener in mind and it shows that Earthrise are aiming higher than the metal band that just wants to rock your face off.

I’m still surprised that this thing is a free download on their bandcamp page, but it is. It’d be a crime for you to pass this up. Even if you’re just curious or a casual metal listener Era’s Lost has enough up its sleeve for serious music fans to appreciate.

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