MINSK

"The Crash and the Draw" is the 4th full-length studio album by US sludge/post metal act Minsk. The album was released through Relapse Records in April 2015. It´s the band´s first release since "With Echoes in the Movement of Stone" from 2009, so they´ve had a longer recording break. Quite a lot has happened in those 6 years though both in terms of the members working on other projects (three of the members recorded the "Impious Lamps (2010)" EP under the Cloud Burial monicker), but also regarding lineup changes. Only Tim Mead (lead vocals, synthesizers), and Chris Bennett (guitars, vocals) are left from the lineup who recorded "With Echoes in the Movement of Stone (2009)". Former bassist/vocalist Sanford Parker is still involved as producer though. New faces in the lineup are Aaron Austin (guitars, vocals), Zachary Livingston (bass, vocals), and Kevin Rendleman (drums).

Stylistically the band continue the atmospheric sludge/post metal style of "With Echoes in the Movement of Stone (2009)". Minsk always had a progressive way of doing things, and that is also true for the music on "The Crash and the Draw". They successfully combine heavy sludgy parts with atmospheric and slow building post metal parts (and even an atsmospheric ambient track in "Conjunction"), and clean vocals with harsher type vocals. The drumming has a tribal sound to them, which makes that part of the music pretty interesting. The tempo is mostly slow- to mid paced, but there are a couple of faster parts on the 11 track, 75:36 minutes long album, especially noteworthy on the opening track "To the Initiate".

In addition to the individual tracks on the album, "The Crash and the Draw" features the ""The Crash and the Draw"" four part suite. The material is generally well written and always playful and adventurous, which is one of the band´s greatest strengths. The high level musicianship, and the organic and well sounding production are two other assets, and all those assets are needed, because although the music is both adventurous and rather progressive, it´s not particularly original, and I hear a lot of nods toward some of the leading acts on the scene like Neurosis, Mastodon, and Baroness. So upon conclusion "The Crash and the Draw" is another high quality release by Minsk. A varied and quite dynamic musical journey, which never becomes tedious despite the very long running time. So despite a few issues with the originality of the material, I still think a 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.

I don't think that I'll please you Igor, but I don't share much of your enthusiasm. Even I understand it. First I wanted to start this (when I was first listening this, I wanted to be fair) review by saying few words, but as I was listening, it all changed. Few times. So: 1)I was encouraged by Prog-jester's praise on this album. So I was desperate to hear this album 2)Then I started to listen it. And I said to myself, this is album for just some certain moods. 3)Fortunately, I found myself in the good mood at the time. Maybe it's connected with two facts, that I was lying in horizontal position and was eating peanuts. 4)Then (maybe it's just coincidence), I stopped eating peanuts and started to get into vertical position (sit on bed). Music started to be worse than before. But as I said, maybe it's unrelated. 5)I hated the fact that I'll drown this album just because dark/heavy atmosphere, so I tried to find a reason why to like it. It was nothing forced, I just wanted to find something that I'll like. 6)Then, towards the end of album I found it. This is indeed album for just some moods, but if you're in the right one, you'll enjoy this.

3(+), not masterpiece for me, but if you're fan of this kind of music (Negura Bunget - Om someone?), you'll like it. Exactly as reviewer who precede me. But for my taste, it depends too much on shock ' n ' terror therapy. But except this, atmosphere is pretty good. Heavy as I like it, but limits are pushed too far for my taste.

Wtf, a first review? There's something wrong with Posty members on PA, why are you guys so post-active?)))

Definitive MINSK album and their second masterpiece in a row along with "The Ritual Fires..." from 2007. Their best one to date, actually - it presents MINSK in their current form, less agressive and sludgy, but more musically deep and experimental. Imagine 70's Kraut- rockers who decided to play that funny modern music called Post-Metal...and they failed us not! More clean vocals, more keyboards, more melodic bridges along with good old preserved headcrushing riffs and killing rhythm-section (Tony Wyioming of MINSK is one of the best in the genre, I'd recognize his manner among hunderds of other drummers). From THE DOORS-like "Means to an End" and proggy "Three Moons" to 'old school MINSK' like "Consumed by Horizons of Fire" and "Almitra's Premonition", it all culminates with 11- minute "Requiem: From Substance To Silence", MINSK' most haunting epic for a moment.

If you think that Post-Metal is dead, try these guys and this album. If you never heard of the genre, "With Echoes In The Movement Of Stone" may serve as a perfect guide as well. Extremely recommended!

Out Of A Center Which Is Neither Dead Nor Alive is the debut studio album by US experimental/ post metal act Minsk. I was introduced to Minsk via their second album The Ritual Fires of Abandonment (2007) which I found to be an excellent album. A really great surprise for me with it´s crushingly heavy riffing mixed with psychadelic elements. Great album that one. So I had to get Out Of A Center Which Is Neither Dead Nor Alive to see if the band had started out as strong.

The music is pretty much in the same vein as on The Ritual Fires of Abandonment which means that this is a crushingly heavy album with psychadelic leanings. The psychadelic elements are not as dominant as on the second album though. Neurosis is the big influence here and I can´t say that Minsk brings much new to the table on this debut, but it´s still a very enjoyable album. The six songs on the album are generally very long and most clock in about the 10 minutes. The music has a tendency to become a bit too repetitive at times which is something they have corrected for their second album. The vocals are very harsh, but never growling.

The musicianship is good. Note the tribal like drumming. Very Neurosis inspired.

The production is strong and heavy.

I´m happy that I purchased Out Of A Center Which Is Neither Dead Nor Alive, but I do prefer The Ritual Fires of Abandonment over this one. It´s just a more sophisticated release. This album deserves a 3 star rating. Fans of Neurosis should really check this band out.

The Ritual Fires of Abandonment is the second album from US, Illinois based experimental/ post metal act Minsk. The album was released on Relapse Records who must be considered one of the leading record companies when it comes to signing experimental metal bands ( Mastodon, Cephalic Carnage, Nile...etc.).

Allthough Minsk probably kneel at the altar of Neurosis before they go to bed at night there´s much more to their music than just being a clone of the masters. What leads my thoughts to Neurosis is the extremely heavy guitars and slow pace, but especially the almost tribal drumming which dominates the album. A band like Pelican also comes to mind because of the melodic touch and the long slow building almost post rock like parts which are also a big part of the album. The psychadelic side of their music is mostly created by the monotenous ( which is a positive thing in my world) haunted vocals and especially the clever use of synth.

The music is very atmospheric and I really enjoy the dark and haunted mood that Minsk create. There are six songs on the album. Three shorter songs ( about 4-5 minutes each) and three longer songs ( about 13-15 minutes each). The album starts with the 13:48 minute long Embers which sets the mood of the album. Slow building ( but never boring), heavy and psychadelic. White Wings is next and it´s one of the shorter songs on the album. It´s also the most heavy metal influenced song on the album, or rather post hardcore/ metal. White Wings is also the most uptempo song on the album ( It´s mid-pace while most other songs are slow). Mescaline Sunrise is as the title suggests a psychadelic atmospheric track. A mood creator. A pleasant listen after the harsh White Wings. It´s the shortest song on the album with it´s 4:43 minutes. Then on to The Orphans of Piety which is a 14:41 minute long track. Challenging atmospheric post metal. What a great song. It even has a saxophone part which reminded me a bit of how Ulver sounded on Perdition City (2000). Circle of Ashes is almost in Post rock style and kind of a calm before the storm that is the ending 15:39 minute long Ceremony EK Stasis. It´s such a powerful and varied track. Very dynamic with both loud heavy parts and mellow post rock parts. There´s even a kind of latin inspired section with another saxophone part.

The musicianship is excellent. The very basic instrumentation of guitar, bass and drums are done in a way that suggests that more people are playing. Minsk really have the ability to sound grand. The vocals by Tim Mead are very strong wether it´s his normal vocals or his more raw side that shows. Note that there are nothing that resembles growling on this album. The aggressive vocal parts are just angry vocals not growls.

The production is excellent. I especially noted the drum sound which I found very enjoyable but everything sounds great IMO.

The Ritual Fires of Abandonment have the advantage that it should appeal to both post metal and post rock fans. It´s heavy but I´m sure that most post rock fans will find it sophisticated enough to enjoy as well. I´ve had this album lying around for quite a while without really giving it a chance and that´s such a shame because it deserves lots of attention and praise IMO. That error is fortunately corrected now. 4 stars is well deserved and I count on great things from Minsk in the future. Fans of bands like Neurosis, Isis, Pelican, Cult of Luna and other related acts should invest in this album. I´m sure you´ll have yourself a positive surprise. I know I did.

To be honest, I haven't heard better album in year 2007. Sludgy sound of Neurosis mixed with clima of the old, psychedelic rock, coldness of Joy Division, post-rock and krautrock. Saxophone borrowed from John Zorn (in two tracks), acoustic, tribal percussion and fantastic vocals sometimes more similar to Scott Kelly (Neurosis), sometimes to Glenn Danzig. The Ritual Fires Of Abandonment are great musical travel for everybody, who expect from ambitious metal something more than Dream Theater's speed!

Dark sky. Thunderous clouds above. Lightning strikes in the horizon as rain starts slowly pouring down. The ground turns to mud. Leaves fall dead from the trees. The cold wind is picking up speed.

Mere words are not enough to describe such a powerful album. The record paints a picture and so must I. 'The Ritual Fires Of Abandonment' is a gigantic slab of apocalyptic doom. The drumming makes the ground move. The riffs are massive. Hypnotic vocals. The mood is from another world. Epic. Minsk comes down on you like a living statue of stone. Plowing everything in it's way. Stomping every living organism to the ground. Such a gigantic being has no interest in the lives of puny humans. Move aside, hide or perish.

This is an unrelenting experience.

The Ritual Fires Of Abandonment is, in my opinion, one of the better releases of this year from its respective musical camp. They play an atmospheric sludge (literally) that's oozing with psychedelic flavors and tribal themes. It's certainly the most psychedelic album I've heard from these guys and their peers which gives the music a new and interesting twist.

Minsk doesn't seem to like being tamed and sublte and it can be shown in their entire discography. These guys are so immense, not only because of its crunchy sludgy riffs, but because of the overall atmosphere present in the album. Their sound in the longer songs isn't completely dominated by guitars and that's a good thing since they only use them when their style demands it making these parts more special and appreciated. So lets look at it this way: this album won't kick you in the nads from the minute it starts, instead it lures you into the back of the building where there's a whole gang waiting to beat you up!, and with the album being quite psychedelic in nature then you can probably guess what was the lure made of... A perfect example of what I'm trying to say is the opener, "Embers". There's hazy, druggy mood throughout the album, but it never sounds empowering and it always comes second to their stormy atmosphere. The shorter songs are more delicate and only one of those songs is punchy and to the point. The drumming is mainly responsible for the tribal mood of the album, but the song which excels in this is "Ceremony Ek Stasis" which is the highlight of the album and also showcases some crazy saxophone lines that adds alot to the atmosphere of the song. The rest of the songs on this album share the same kind mood, they're most certainly heavy, sludgy and a bit more fast paced than other atmospheric sludge bands.

Like I already said, Minsk's sound is massive. They share more similarities in their sound with doom metal than the post-rock genre so don't expect any tear-jerking moments here or tender emotional guitar play. This is as heavy, menacing and bleak as any other sludge / doom metal band around with acid tranced moments to keep things interesting. If you're a fan of bands like Isis, Neurosis, Cult Of Luna and others in the similar vein then you'll enjoy Minsk's take on the genre.