Yayla - Pas.to.rale review
| Band: | Yayla |
| Album: | Pas.to.rale |
| Style: | Ambient black metal |
| Release date: | February 05, 2017 |
| A review by: | X-Ray Rod |
01. Altars In Temple Sewers
02. Everyday Is Death For Us
03. Pandora
04. Funeral
05. Steadfast Chaos
06. Endless Regrets
07. Mantras Of Separation
08. Rats
09. Pastorale
10. They Are Losing You From Me
"I believe this is hell; that I will suffer even after I die- eternally". Well, after that opening line I feel like quoting the great Dax Riggs: "If this is hell, then I'm lucky".
I've been following Yayla's career ever since the sophomore album Sathimasal came out back in 2012 along with Chaoscunt's other brainchild, Blliigghhtted. I vividly remember getting lost in the fuzzy, bassy and highly entrancing black metal of Sathimasal. It displayed an odd sense of melancholia and despair, as if something more abstract and greater than the individual was in danger. Pas.to.rale on the other hand feels very human and even down-to-earth at points which reflects on the music as well. Yayla now focuses on a greater sense of melody and rhythm (as in the catchy beginning to "Mantras Of Separation") and less emphasis has been put to bass and fuzzy, disorienting riffs. These sorrowful melodies are accompanied by desperate lyrics that yours truly relates to a homesickness of sorts.
From the very beginning we are treated to raw melodic riffs that pay homage to the classic acts from the 90s while avoiding feeling too familiar. This might be because different themes revolving around black metal culture are mixed homogenously. Pas.to.rale is plagued with ritualistic instrumentals that almost take over half the running time of the album. These tracks lead the way to ghostly, slow and punishing riffs that evoke strong depressive/suicidal vibes, at times similar to Xasthur's work, that eventually erupt into more chaotic tunes producing a more "classic satanic" atmosphere related to older acts of this genre.
It's in these introductory instrumentals that plenty of experimentation can be found, "Pandora" being my personal favorite with keys that remind me of old Burzum juxtaposed with drumming that is highly erratic at times. Some of the organ-sounding keyboards are almost circus-like (both in "Pandora" and "Rats") and add further sense of confusion and uncertainty which seems to be the main theme of the album once all the changes in mood are considered.
My only gripe with this album is "They Are Losing You From Me" which to me does not work as a closer, unlike the title track with its great melodic riffs that almost made me think of Wolves In The Throne Room for a second. All in all, Pas.to.rale is a very multifaceted album that has plenty of material for everybody in love with this versatile genre, from the traditional to the experimental.
Bandcamp
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 8 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 8 |
| Production: | 8 |
 | Written on 10.03.2017 by A lazy reviewer but he is so cute you'd forgive him for it. |
Comments
Comments: 8
Visited by: 112 users
| Auntie Sahar Drone Empress Posts: 5989  |
Emir has a great habit of changing the style considerably from album to album, not just with Yayla but Blliigghhtted and Viranesir as well. Very enjoyable release, it seems to only get better and leave a stronger impression with more spins.
---- 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: 18375  |
Written by Auntie Sahar on 10.03.2017 at 20:11 I thought the same, definitely a grower. It started off for me by being less good than the sophomore album but after a week or two it got better. The subtle details do that.
---- 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 10.03.2017 at 20:13 That's the other thing about this dude's music I like, it can tend to trick you a lot like that. Because, at a first glance, it often is really raw and basic but there are indeed those subtle intricacies underneath it for you to sort of peel back. It's like a challenge, like... "I dare you to see what lurks beneath"
---- 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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| Metren Dreadrealm Posts: 1410  |
Fantastically well-detailed review, really describes the album well. Listened to the thing today and enjoyed it immensly.
---- My one-man project's Bandcamp with free downloads: https://dreadrealm.bandcamp.com/
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| Susan Smeghead Elite Posts: 6941  |
Ugh... the fuzz is so brilliantly done. You could just drink it. You say something pretty perfect with, "pay homage to the classic acts...while avoiding feeling too familiar." This sentiment, in its myriad forms, is the goal of so many bands, and Yayla captured it just right.
---- "A life all mine Is what I choose At the end of my days" --The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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| X-Ray Rod Skandino Staff Posts: 18375 |
Written by Metren on 10.03.2017 at 20:51 Thank you for the kind words! I've been in a very dry period when it comes to writing reviews so it does mean a lot that I still got it somewhere in the back of my head! Written by Susan on 11.03.2017 at 20:51 Thank you Susan! The fuzz is really strong with this project, indeed. Like I said in the previous review "Soft black velvet through your ears and a bassy wall of sound that washes through your veins." It does apply here as well, although I'd say the sophomore album was fuzzier but that's probably because it lacked the instrumentals this one has. Regarding the influences, Yayla does seem to have a great balance between classic and bringing something new to the table.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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