Band:	Hyatari
Album:	The Light Carriers
Style:	Drone Metal
Release date:	May 01, 2004
A review by:	Lucas

01. Sheet Of Flames
02. Freeform For The Disenfranchised
03. The Light Carriers
04. Fourth Realm
05. 14,000,000,000 Years Ago
06. Harvesting Sod
07. Collapse

"The Light Carriers" is the very first feat of arms of the American Drone Rockers Hyatari. And quite a promising one too! It might take a bit of effort though. "Sheet Of Flames", the first song, just keeps droning on for over six minutes. Rock-based riffs with a lot of feedback, with a shrill slide thrown in occasionally. More of that in the second song. And the third song. There is some catchy drumwork, and a male humming choir that is bound to catch you off-guard, but that's it.

From the fourth track, "Fourth Realm", Hyatari suddenly mean business. Tribal drumming brutally evicts your from your hypnotised state of mind, and cruelly leaves you bewildered for a moment. Your senses jump into DEFCON 1, but nothing really happens. Unintelligible murmur and a deep drone ponder on until hardcore vocals ravage the place. Neurosis has obviously pressed its mark on this recording.

Then it naturally flows over into a quiet, yet brooding piece of picking. But before you know it, layers of lethal riffs flow over it again and you find yourself once again between shrill squeals and deep feedback. Somewhere along the highway sirens sing their songs of despair amidst the crushing violence of the waves, crushing riff-work bakes in the sun and weird murmurs from below the waves creeps down your spine. There are a lot of interesting things going on here, some neatly after each other, some at the same time, but always interesting.

The main strength (or weakness) of this album is that it really builds itself up. By themselves, the first couple of songs are quite boring but in the light of the whole concept, they have a purpose. Slowly building up the creeping tension, it takes a hold of you and does not let go easily. Once you have started listening, you simply must continue.

"The Light Carriers" is really a good album, if you can stand a bit of repetitive music. It is layered, lethal, and also interesting in the long run. The production is good and especially the guitars are very crushing. If you are bored by the first couple of songs, do yourself a favour and simply skip them. You will probably get into them later. Already looking forward to the follow-up!