EUSAPIA

EUSAPIA     “Thin Cities/Desert Festival” EP

By Dr. Abner Mality

This review is unique for a couple of reasons. First, I very rarely do 2 song EP’s, which this really is. And second, I’ve never been much of a fan of “shoegaze” black metal/ post metal, which EUSAPIA undoubtedly is. The EP features two main tracks, “Thin Cities” and “Desert Festival” and then replays both, but connected by a new interlude. Total time of the whole thing is over a half hour, but 20 minutes of that is the reprise.

So why bother doing it? Well, I was actually moved by the sound EUSAPIA created here, which is unusual. Not going to lie, I can’t stand the likes of ALCEST and DEAFHEAVEN. EUSAPIA does have relations to those bands, but somehow, the soothing parts are truly enchanting and the heavy/aggressive parts live up to that description. The result are two tracks that really do make use of the “light and shadow” paradigm in a more memorable way.

“Thin Cities” is first and begins with relaxing low-key guitar…not a million miles away from the mellow bits of CULT OF LUNA and LONG DISTANCE CALLING. Things gradually become heavier, almost doom-like, but with a gauzy, hazy veil that keeps it from being crushing. The song uses shrieking, howling black metal vocals that do come across as monotonous, but there are also some soothing cleans that hit the spot quite well after all the screaming. The track moves steadily towards a strong conclusion and is really a post-metal/blackgaze tune I can enjoy all the way.

“Desert Festival” begins with raucous, screaming black metal…no build-up detected this time! But the song does morph into slower, cleaner tones that alternate with the violent black metal…a true pendulum effect is created. And I also must add the production on the EP is pristine.

The reprise offers nothing new except a placid interlude and seems added to pad the running time. Nevertheless, I would be more than interested in hear a full album from EUSAPIA.

EUSAPIA