Review: REZN ‘Cycles In The Infinite Dream’
REZNmight just be one of Chicago’s best-kept heavy musical secrets. While they may not immediately ring as many bells with listeners as their Windy City compatriots Russian Circles and Pelican, the four-piece has a remarkably strong discography which only continues to grow in epic scale and haunting atmosphere.
Coming from stoner roots, REZN’s trans-dimensional brand of doom metal and heavy rock touches upon elements of ambient and free jazz to create something which is simultaneously ominous yet glorious. Cycles Of The Infinite Dream is the band’s eighth full-length, their third for Sargent House, and easily sits on my yet-to-be-written Top Ten of 2026 list.
With its airy synthesizer opening, Rite Of Passage swirls with apocalyptic beauty, showcasing Rob McWilliam’s distinctive tenor vocals much further up in the mix than is usually heard. The riffs churn with post-metal swathes of a somewhat Adam Jones-ish style, while the keyboards light the way. Transient recalls In The Absence of Truth-era Isis but coupled with Spencer Ouellette‘s glorious use of saxophone. This jazz element has definitely brought a unique layer to their sound that isn’t often heard in many heavy music genres. The gentler melodic stylings of Aerial Birth recall more recent offerings from Elder but with a bit more restraint.
a record that oozes with dreamlike melody and amplifier ferocity…
The Vessel is a hard hitter which displays how the band’s songwriting has tightened up, as songs here tend to be shorter but no less impactful in their delivery. Since songs exceeding eight, nine or even ten minutes are getting increasingly common in doom, I find this a bit of a welcome reprieve as REZN seems to be intent on saying what they need to with the musical time allotted as opposed to stretching the fabric of space and time (and tape and/or memory space). A less-is-more approach without being simplistic. The aptly titled Primal Thread is probably my favorite track, with a wistful closing descent counteracted by some pummeling riffs from McWilliams.
REZN have refined their songcraft and approach for a record that oozes with dreamlike melody and amplifier ferocity. It makes for an immensely satisfying listen; it is highly recommended, and we can only speculate as to what journey they will take from here. The cycle turns infinitely…
Label: Sargent House
Band Links: Official | Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Rob Walsh
