Hannover prog metallers settle into their weird on savage and soft fifth album.
The Hirsch Effekt state their music isn’t intended for the casual listener, yet that belies the evolution the German band have undergone since first appearing on the scene, all sharp edges and garishness, in 2010. Urian their fifth LP, is full of grace and poise that harmonises with their abrasive, prog metal weirdness.
As Blud’s pointed hellscapes attests, there’s still plenty of bite and bombast to their sound. But there are also tender moments, like on Stegodon’s and minimalist post-rock, that showcase a band more comfortable at both ends of their spectrum than ever before. Angular guitars and bellowed vocals play off oceanic ambience and golden peaks to create a yin and yang balance that complements rather…
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Prog (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 143