Lantlôs - Melting Sun review
| Band: | Lantlôs |
| Album: | Melting Sun |
| Style: | Post-rock, Atmospheric black metal |
| Release date: | May 02, 2014 |
| A review by: | tea[m]ster |
01. Melting Sun I: Azure Chimes
02. Melting Sun II: Cherry Quartz
03. Melting Sun III: Aquamarine Towers
04. Melting Sun IV: Jade Fields
05. Melting Sun V: Oneironaut
06. Melting Sun VI: Golden Mind
07. Melting Sun VII [artbook bonus]
Another semi-quasi-black metal band has taken all the "black" out of their music in favor of a relatively fresh and trendy, dare I say, "hipster" sound. Markus Siegenhort, aka Herbst, has fancied his band Lantlôs to contemporary and utopian heights. Provocative and emotive, Lantlôs show every sign of picking up the pieces after their surprising but drama-free divorce from Neige. Wanting to move on, there is no post-Neige hangover here, thank you very much.
Melting Sun pretty much will be a shock to anyone wanting anything resembling Lantlôs's last two releases, .neon and Agape. Those two albums are mighty fine examples of perfect crossbreeding between shoegazing and black metal. Although Neige was relegated to singing on those albums, his influence on the overall sound cannot go unnoticed. Alcest is the measuring stick every metalgaze band wants to size up and Lantlôs have established a demeanor refreshing to a scene fueled with a lack of diversity.
Right from the outset and through the end of this 40-minute spectacle, Melting Sun transits a perfect combination of concrete and aggressive song structures and dreamy, abstract climates. A virtual stockpile of charming and harmonious soft-metal moments, the ascendancy is a welcome change. The album delivers an effort of staggering thickness, savory sadness, and a wandering limitless acceptance. Like most dreampop and shoegaze music, there is a euphoric sense of buildup; the entire vibe of the album creates an almost plodding crescendo of the most overwhelming sense of anticipation.
To me, ever since Líam, Herbst has been a master of forging perfect guitar dispositions and textures. The massive wall of those layered guitar tones are the principal merits on this album. He just has a knack for combining melody and mesmeric moments of audio elation with ruthlessness and anguish. Heavily processed bass guitar, synthesizers, and drum work create a blissy, dreamlike, and majestic sonic template that's equally emotionally intense.
Now that Neige is gone, Herbst has taken over the vocal duties. Nothing special, his voice seems only to aid the darkening sound that somehow now seems to be made more brilliant and prismatic. Moreover, his voice eases along with beautiful melodies and gorgeous passages that collide gracefully with ambient chords and tremelo-picked noodling. Excessive use of reverb and echoey guitar lines allow the songs to vent celestial and spacey beams of light. All of these peripherals collectively are downright transcendent.
We may have to include this new era of Lantlôs under the umbrella of post-rock, and after listening to this incredible album I do not have any doubts Melting Sun will recruit new fans - or put off old ones. I, for one, love the entire package and applaud Herbst for taking a bit of a risk by creating an album under his own terms and conditions. I can't think of any more adjectives to describe this release, just go listen to it and enjoy.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 10 |
| Originality: | 9 |
| Production: | 10 |
 | Written on 02.07.2014 by Be gentle, I never said I was any good at this! |
Comments
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Comments: 47
Visited by: 292 users
| Schnabeltier 24 Posts: 87  |
Wow, this sounds appealing ! Although I'm not really into that type of music, I'll check this out.
---- Hey there, tiny wench !
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| mz Posts: 4824  |
Despite the fact that I don't have interest in this type of metal, the review is tempting. Shall go for this one. Very well written review, again 
---- Giving my ears a rest from music.
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| God Alone Posts: 310  |
Flawless album, top-notch songwriting. It's relatively short but not a second is wasted, not even in the beautiful instrumental, a perfect bridge between the catharsis of Jade Fields and the closer (reminds me of Cocteau Twins). Vocals could be better but they fit pretty well the music - which rather relies on its shimmering textures. Album of the year, for me. Proof that you can change your music without sounding like a watered-down version of yourself. Yes, Neige, I'm talking about you. 
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| Ag Fox Angel No More Elite Posts: 4774  |
I don't share your enthusiasm on this album =P
---- loves 小巫
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| scaesura Posts: 174 |
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Posts: 5989  |
Yeah, I have some really mixed emotions about this album. I do think it's pretty well written and really beautiful at points, but I'm still not really digging the whole "blackgaze" movement as a whole
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374  |
Written by Auntie Sahar on 02.07.2014 at 20:49 But why would your view of a genre affect the view of one specific album?
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374 |
Written by [user id=4365] on 02.07.2014 at 21:34 In that case... I'll allow it.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| !J.O.O.E.! Account deleted |
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18374 |
Written by [user id=4365] on 02.07.2014 at 21:38 Yeah, the artwork is pretty awesome. I'd love to have that vinyl size. I heard some tracks a while ago and I remember liking it. It felt very solid and not at all as redundant as the sound from other bands.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Posts: 5989 |
Written by X-Ray Rod on 02.07.2014 at 21:33 It was my way of saying that I don't generally enjoy blackgaze, but I am liking this specific album
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| tea[m]ster Au Pays Natal Contributor Posts: 5266  |
Written by Auntie Sahar on 02.07.2014 at 20:49 Don't you think the 'black' in this record is pretty much non-existent Che? I hear post rock with a huge dreampop and shoegaze backdrop.
---- rekt
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| tea[m]ster Au Pays Natal Contributor Posts: 5266 |
Written by [user id=4365] on 02.07.2014 at 21:34 This is quite different than previous Lantlos efforts Joe, I bet you wouldn't like this at all...at least give it a try to confirm my intuition.
---- rekt
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306  |
Written by tea[m]ster on 03.07.2014 at 03:47 I'm with you on that one. There's hardly any metal elements to be found here - it's pretty much post-rock and shoegaze with a slightly metallic edge to it. Probably about 1% black metal. If you're not into the whole blackgaze thing that's fine since it won't have any impact on your opinion of this album.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| tea[m]ster Au Pays Natal Contributor Posts: 5266 |
Written by Troy Killjoy on 03.07.2014 at 04:03 Yea Troy I just don't see it. I am hoping that metal fans won't get scared to give this a try. I mean the layered guitars are so gorgeous sounding and crushing.
---- rekt
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| Ilham Giant robot Posts: 5161  |
Written by [user id=4365] on 02.07.2014 at 21:34 Surprised by the extent of your laziness. Weird, could have sworn you'd love it. I did.
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| Troy Killjoy perfunctionist Staff Posts: 21306 |
I think this is as good a site as any for this kind of album to receive positive attention, although it might still do relatively poorly considering the general reaction to the latest Alcest release. Personally I'm not a fan of either, but people who appreciate either post-rock or shoegaze will likely find something to like about this.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| tea[m]ster Au Pays Natal Contributor Posts: 5266 |
Written by Ilham on 03.07.2014 at 04:13 I don't think he digs anything in the shoegaze/dreampop genre...I'm trying to remember....oh he may like early Alcest.
---- rekt
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| Ilham Giant robot Posts: 5161 |
Written by tea[m]ster on 03.07.2014 at 04:17 He'll tell us himself. I personally liked this, first encounter with Lantlôs. I like some dreampop here and there, but I wouldn't consider myself a fan of the genre. And Alcest really pisses me off now. I'm full of contradictions.
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| tea[m]ster Au Pays Natal Contributor Posts: 5266 |
Written by Ilham on 03.07.2014 at 04:25 Glad you dig it. It's a heavier type of dreampop, the production is perfect.
---- rekt
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| Ilham Giant robot Posts: 5161 |
Written by tea[m]ster on 03.07.2014 at 04:29 That is why I do. No whimsical high-pitched female vocals either, which is a huge plus.
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| tea[m]ster Au Pays Natal Contributor Posts: 5266 |
Written by Ilham on 03.07.2014 at 04:34 Lol, but sometimes I need whimsical high-pitched female voice...like....ummm... that girl from Flyleaf. I am Jay btw, pleasure to meet you, don't think we've ever "talked".
---- rekt
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| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Posts: 5989 |
Written by tea[m]ster on 03.07.2014 at 03:47 Well giving it another spin, you're probably right, but then I admittedly haven't listened to that much of the style anyway, so I can't say I'm entirely sure whether or not the majority of other bands sound something like this, or employ more BM in their mix.
---- I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go. ~ II. VII
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| tea[m]ster Au Pays Natal Contributor Posts: 5266 |
Written by Auntie Sahar on 03.07.2014 at 04:44 I would say the VAST majority of blackgaze don't sound like this. Deafheaven, Krallice, AAFCT and Altar Of Plagues have very noticable black metal elements in their sound. Give this one a few spins Che, if I had to pick an AOTY for the first half of '14, this would be it.
---- rekt
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| Ilham Giant robot Posts: 5161 |
Written by tea[m]ster on 03.07.2014 at 04:40 I was thinking about something similar to the in girl Amesoeurs actually. I have no idea if she's a regular though. I find the Flyleaf girl just as annoying. The only thing I can picture when listening to vocals like that is a Kenzo perfume TV ad. I mean, the vocals, just the vocals. Hi Jay, I'm Ilham, I L H A M, as in "ill" and "ham". Enchantée, indeed we have never had the pleasure of discoursing.
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| tea[m]ster Au Pays Natal Contributor Posts: 5266 |
Written by Ilham on 03.07.2014 at 04:50 I actually like the girl's voice from the Dum Dum Girls, heard of them? It's amazing how vocals can be the deal breaker when listening to music. I find that most of the post-hardcore I try gets a neg because of those dam kiddy-vocals. I've seen you around the MS Park hootin' and a hollerin' but never had the balls to stop by....I finally grew a pair... lol
---- rekt
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| Ilham Giant robot Posts: 5161 |
Written by tea[m]ster on 03.07.2014 at 04:55 Same here. I usually have a huge problem with female vocals in metal and rock. And I know the Dum Dum Girls, very catchy tunes! She has the kind of voice I like, and can tolerate for a whole album. Garbage girl does it the way I like it too. I've read a couple of your reviews and seen you around. I do abuse the shoutbox if that's what you're referring to . But there is no need to have balls to talk to me, look at the sad sods I associate with.Anyway. To legitimize the off-topicness: the whispery childish whimsical female singing in post-rock/dreampop/post-whatever is usually what keeps me from enjoying the rest of the music. I often try to look for bands that do it instrumental only, but it's too much of a hassle. If you have any names...
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| tea[m]ster Au Pays Natal Contributor Posts: 5266 |
Written by Ilham on 03.07.2014 at 05:17 Yes, Garbage Version 2.0 is a guilty pleasure of mine. Shirley Manson can flat-out sing. Shouldn't be too much of a problem because A) post-whatever albums genrally don't have a lot of singing on them anyways and B) I know you are a hard worker, so take some time someday and check out my user lists. Plenty of good stuff to go around.
---- rekt
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| Ilham Giant robot Posts: 5161 |
Written by tea[m]ster on 03.07.2014 at 05:26 Why does it have to be guilty? Well that's the thing. I have a lot to do. I took a six year break in all things that could be affiliated to metal. Around the time Alcest became big for example. Will do, bookmarked the post/blablabla one.
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