Review: Void Of Light ‘Asymmetries’
It’s another step into the mesmerising and thunderous world of post-metal for me as Glasgow’s Void Of Light release their debut album via Ripcord Records. The band consists of six members, and the one thing that stands out is that the three guitarists – Nick Collins, Simon Mather and Marc Carey – can make one hell of a racket as they pummel you into submission with their compositions.
Carey joins forces with Ali Lauder on vocals, and there is real weight behind their dual performance, as they create both an eerie atmosphere and tension throughout. The songs are long and complex, allowing your mind and emotions to drift, as they open with The Passing Hours, which starts in the most sedate of ways.
However, about a minute in, you get this angry vocal and aggressive music pouring out, and it’s an emotional roller coaster of a song at nearly eleven minutes long. It sets out their stall for what follows, especially the poignant piano section towards the end, which is captivating, as is the noticeable bass from Dan Irving which comes through at this point. The whole experience is very enjoyable before they lead you into Silver Mask with its wonderful layered and textured riffs that give off an imposing sound.
By writing longer songs, it allows the sextet to explore a wide range of melodies to see what dynamics fit their narrative, all wrapped around the roaring vocals. On the quieter moments, I enjoy the softer drums from Stephen Wilkinson alongside the bass, as their rhythm allows the others to add more depth to the tracks. The band explore several themes across the album, including perspective, reflection and internal conflict.
It builds through potent drumming, raucous riffs, and vengeful vocals before giving way to absolute tranquillity…
While the third track, Ends, adds more to their rushing music, as the juxtaposition of the introverted vocals midway adds so much to the overall structure and works incredibly well with the maniacal approach later in the song. Still The Night Skies features a great bass lead that flourishes beneath overlaid guitars. It carries an imposing flow where the melody truly steals the show, making it probably my favourite song on the album. It demonstrates how a band can evolve within a single song. It builds through potent drumming, raucous riffs, and vengeful vocals before giving way to absolute tranquillity – like a literal storm before the calm.
They end their debut with Mirrorings, which kicks off with a more forceful tone, almost as if they are poking you in the face with a rod of iron, but allowing you to rest when they feel it appropriate. Again, the contrast works well, especially the angry vocals over the calmer music, before the delivery goes big once more. The layered arrangements are impressive throughout, perfectly forging their dynamic and offering an excellent insight into the mindset of the group. Overall, I’m intrigued to see where they go from here, as this is a fine debut album.
Label: Ripcord Records
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Matthew Williams
