Time Signature
Fate and technology...
Genre: experimental post-metal/rock
After having gone as far as artistically possible with the experimental and psychedelic post-rock project SubArachnoid Space, Melynda Jackson decided to put a stop to that project and created Eight Bells - which, while distancing itself from certain aspects of its predecessor, is still closely related to SubArachnoid Space (it is named after the final album released by SubArachnoid Space, you see, and it features the same drummer, too).
While still very experimental and psychedelic, Eight Bells is incredibly dark and doom-laden in comparison, and Jackson and company draw on a number of aesthetics from the universe of metal, creating what is essentially a type of post-metal album in the form of The Captain's Daughter. Mostly instrumental (with 'Fat eand Technology' being the notable exception), the four tracks on the album are quite atmospheric and feature experimentation with soundscapes, drone aesthetics and noise on part with heavy doom metal-oriented drum beats.
As if to emphasize that Jackson and friends have now chosen to explore the darker side of music, they incorporate elements from black metal into their overall sound which is reflected in the use of black metal-styled blastbeats in passages of 'Tribularies' (which also features guitar expressions not unlike what you might hear in depressive black metal) and elsewhere. The overall atmosphere is dark, naturally, and the psychedelic aspect of the album has more in common with the creepy dark psychedelia of the likes of Alrune Rod than with your average flower power pothead type of release.
Fans of post-metal and perhaps even atmospheric black metal, drone metal and dark post-rock are bound to enjoy Eight Bells' debut album. So, if your count yourself among those types of music fans, do not hesitate to purchase it.
(review originally posted at seaoftranquility.org)