The Salt Pale Collective are a very special creature; in fact, the English trio is the author of a remarkable cross between sludge doom and post-rock, with the two apparently dichotomous souls that follow each other along the four long tracks, creating an alienating and compelling atmosphere. In the heavier passages the riffs, percussion and growl come down like mallet blows, before giving way to dreamy atmospheres led by an evocative voice, sometimes liturgical in tone, resting on a rather atmospheric base. This bipolarity of sound works really well in this self-titled debut EP of the trio formed by Dave Mac, Dan Hodges and Alex Adamson, musicians of which I admit I know nothing of their past. No harm done, what matters is a rather convincing present, thanks to four tracks for over half an hour of music full of remarkable ideas, without disdaining some experimental hints. The first track Abyssal Star perfectly represents the intentions of The Salt Pale Collective and, if you are able to adequately assimilate these first seven minutes, the rest of the listening will be certainly rewarding.

2022 – Independent