French band Year Of No Light have been around for almost twenty years now, and they’ve been with the same line-up since 2008, when they decided to make a rather risky change to their sound by renouncing vocals, which had been included in their debut full length Nord (2006). Three more long-distance works followed, Ausserwelt (2009) and Vampyr and Tocsin, curiously enough both released in 2013, but in between the Bordeaux sextet placed a consistent series of split albums that contributed to their name not fading from collective memory. After all, Year Of No Light‘s post metal sludge is of such quality that it’s impossible for the most attentive listeners to ignore it: Consolamentum is released eight years after the previous full length, but the stylistic continuity is guaranteed by an approach that is as varied as ever, at times lysergic, sometimes almost furious to the edge of paroxysm (Interdix aux Vivant, aux Morts et aux Chiens and Came), at other times more liquid and reflective but, above all, free of those dispersions that often weigh down works of an entirely instrumental nature. The transalpine band offers almost an hour of sounds that from enveloping suddenly become sharp, hitting the sensitive points before retreating and resume their gloomy vaulting. A magnificent work, perhaps the best that can be found today in this particular stylistic segment.
2021 – Pelagic Records
Mournful Sounds 
You must be logged in to post a comment.