The Ephemeral is a hard rock band, but it is also a progressive act, as well. It’s album, Your Burden Is Safe With Me, alternates between sophisticated instrumental sections, and more straight-out metal. Similarly, vocals may be clean one minute, then harsh the next. It’s a sonic mixed bag, for sure, but it is also done quite well.
For example, one track titled “Vibe Check,” begins with atmospheric sounds, which feel more like movie soundtrack music than anything else. When the rock part comes in, however, it’s with a relatively subdued punch. A slap more than a pounding, if you will. Eventually, screamed vocals join the fray, yet take a backseat to more restrained singing. It’s not clear what the song’s title refers to, as the words are pretty much buried underneath all the song’s sonic elements. However, about midway through, the music begins to sound nearly like a choir, while electric guitars add swirling lead parts. Yep, there’s a lot going on here.
“Vibe Check” is followed by the similarly titled “Nil 1” and “Nil 2.” While “Nil 1” comes out of the gate with a musical roar, “Nil 2” begins gently, with its lead vocal far away, buried in the mix until jackhammered electric guitar drag races to the fore. However, the lead vocal remains set quietly against this axe work before thunderous vocals power in. It’s a track that incorporates plenty of different sides to The Ephemeral’s musical personality.
The eight-track album closes with another soft-at-the-beginning song titled “Dead Snow.” Once again, it reveals The Ephemeral’s more meditative musical mind. The vocal is as hushed as a gentle snowfall, while the guitars echo and repeat in a kind of instrumental round. It is, dare we say it, a pretty song. At nearly nine minutes, it’s also the release’s longest piece. As with many of these other selections, though, the seeming sonic silence is broken by louder parts that take over at one point. Mixing these many elements together shows off The Ephemeral’s ambitious approach to creating music. It’s not afraid to create a long track that vacillates widely from one sound extreme to another.
The album opens with “Goliath,” a song named after that Biblical giant (one presumes) who was felled by David’s well-aimed stone. In addition to both quiet and loud parts, this track also features a spoken word section, as well. This recording also sports more sophisticated electric guitar work, as well as synthesized sounds that give it a most unusual sound. It’s impossible to pin just one genre summarization on this track, which is quite the high recommendation.
ONLINE:
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The idea of labeling music with one lone genre description is getting harder and harder to do these days. We’re living in the era of the great musical melting pot. Just be glad you’re alive now, too. Many bands listen to a wide spectrum of sounds, and if they do it right, create something all their own. This album is unique in many respects. It would be a little dizzying and confusing, if the musicianship wasn’t this good. Your Burden Is Safe
With Me, though, is very good, indeed.
-Dan MacIntosh
