Band:	Gloson
Album:	Mara
Style:	Post-metal, Sludge metal
Release date:	April 05, 2019
A review by:	musclassia

01. Usurper
02. Equinox

2017's Grimen was one of the finest post-metal debuts of recent years. Two years on, and whilst Gloson haven't produced a sophomore full-length yet, they've now treated us to an abridged display of what they've been up to since.

For the most part, Gloson have thus far employed a murky, sludgy brand of post-metal, offering up the expected loud/soft transitions but maintaining the same sinister, oppressive atmosphere whilst doing so, with thick, crunchy riffs, heavy, semi-ritualistic drumming, and an in-your-face sound. "Usurper", the first of two tracks on Mara, is very much in this sonic vein, maintaining a malevolent vibe throughout, with its tom-heavy drumming and creepy guitar work. There is also ample use of ominous dialogue samples (of unknown origin) during both songs here.

Whilst 'standard' Gloson is perfectly enjoyable, their diversions into more melodic territory have been more than welcome in the past, such as on Grimen's epic closer "Embodiment" or the partly symphonic closing moments of "The Aftermath/Beginning" from Yearwalker. To that end, the second track, "Equinox", is far more melancholic than the bleak, oppressive opening track. It starts off unassuming enough, with a sludgy, punishing opening couple of minutes, but semi-melodic guitar leads throughout this opening hint at levity later on, which arrives around the 3-minute mark. From this point onwards, an overtly melodic lead guitar line announces a less claustrophobic and more sorrowful end to proceedings.

At 15 minutes, this is only a bitesize sample ahead of what I can only hope is a more substantial effort to come later on this year/next year, but for now Mara acts as a nice demonstration that one of the more exciting bands to emerge in post-metal this decade are still active and as intimidating as ever.