LET THE TRUTH SPEAK

I find that oftentimes metal music is usually just framed as something that is only just gritty and hard as nails, and while in most cases that is certainly true, I find that metal can certainly share moments of beauty and tranquility, oftentimes in ways many might not see coming. I mean, certainly just this year we've had a couple of metal releases that, while still heavy, contain a spark of sheer grace for me that I come back to, craving for more. Woe Unto Me gave a more doom metal answer to my cravings of splendiferous music, and Ne Obliviscaris followed that up with a graciously amazing symphonic prog metal record. However, while those masterpieces of music certainly do deliver such a vibrant metal landscape, neither of which made me wish to see a more delicate outlook on the landscape as much as Earthside's latest release has.

Earthside is a relatively new group in the prog metal scene, being formed in 2014 in the New England region of the US. Despite their newer status, and very limited release pool, they have certainly made a name for themselves as a top dog in the newer sphere of prog metal, alongside Haken, Others By No One, and Caligula's Horse. What sets them apart from their colleagues is their metal in particular having a lot more of an introspective edge that can be similar to that of post rock groups like The Evpatoria Report, or We Lost The Sea. Whilst their first release, A Dream in Static, certainly featured their more lush heavy metal sound, their sophomore record of Let The Truth Speak expands on their post rock influences even more, whilst also showcasing an interesting way of bending certain genres to their whim.

If there is one descriptor I would say this album is in most of its facets, I would say pastoral. Now, you might be asking, why that word? Most of the times when you describe something as pastoral in a prog context, you'd mostly look at stuff in relation to the more folksy scene of groups like Strawbs or Gryphon. Well, I believe with how things are played about on this album, the term pastoral just fits right on home. The waves of beautiful symphonics mixed with an uplifting sense of self fits almost perfectly with the more country side outlooks many bands from the 60s and 70s looked towards for musical ideals, though to a certainly modern degree. Everything within the album's seams feel so warm, cozy, and tranquil in a weird but uplifting way, even in the more heavy moments this record shows often. I know, it is quite odd to call a heavy metal album 'cozy', but the music has a particular warmth to me that I never knew I craved in a record, almost as if it is a hug in musical form.

As for the sound itself in a more direct musical opinion, this is easily one of the best metal releases this year. Jamie Van Dyck's guitar soars in ways that makes it feel so otherworldly, with Ben Shanbrom's drums leading the pack with lines that have an intensity of a raging bull, but the comfort and loving embrace that of a mother. Frank Sacramone and Ryan Griffin also provide excellence here, with both allowing the textures to flourish that makes their efforts all the more commendable. Still, I believe the main focus is certainly the guest musicians that are on most of the tracks. Almost every track features at least one or two guest stars, usually with helping hands on vocals, orchestration, or sometimes to provide more instrumentation to the playing. However, this isn't like, say, Humanz by Gorillaz, where the guest stars are practically the musicians with the band being a mere backup. No, in fact this feels more like a communal effort, with both band and guests working together as one unit in these songs, at least how I see it. Look at The Lesser Evil for example, featuring Larry Braggs of soul groups Temptations & Tower of Power, as well as experimental jazzist Sam Gendel of Clown Core. Whilst certainly both play a large role in the sound of the song, I never felt both overpowered one another, or even overpowered Earthside in their efforts. In fact, it feels more like they bounce off each other with a highly enjoyable mix of things. Earthside obviously provide the more heavy metal sound, almost in a djent type of way, with Sam Gendel providing an amazing funky jazz that breathes a magical life in the mix, and Larry Braggs providing a soul / funk vocal setting, making this interesting fusion not only sound more pure, but filled with heart. Your attention is never on one particular thing here, only on the music, and as such these collaborations certainly feel just that, collaborations, work between musician and musician in order to make the art better than ever. Larry, Sam, and everyone else here aren't just featured on an Earthside record, they practically ARE members of Earthside here, and I think that is just beautiful.

Speaking of mixes of genres, I do not think I have ever heard a metal album so eclectic, aside from the Omnerod record I reviewed last week. I mean I already talked about the jazz funk mix of The Lesser Evil, but coming off that we get Denial's Aria, a strictly non-metal, ambient art pop track (and my favorite track on this album personally). I mean, having such a soft track after a wave of interesting, dramatic, and very vibrant metal workings seems like a recipe to absolutely break the flow of the album, and while it may certainly be unexpected, with just how it is orchestrated with a mix of beautiful symphonic qualities, atmosphere, and a sense of tension building, especially with the beautiful vocal workings of VikKe and Duo Scorpio's harp, it all comes together and creates probably one of the best scores in the band's catalog. This record is kinda like Omnerod's The Amensal Rise, but while that album was more so genres being mixed through the seams of a multitude of heavy, avant-metal workings, Let The Truth Speak is a clear and direct fusion between the genres Earthside is fascinated by. Obviously I mentioned elements of jazz, post rock, and pop here, but you also get elements of R&B, romanticism, soul, folk, and just a lot more that I find myself surprised with each listen, finding new things under every note. It is honestly quite amazing how they managed to just find a way to bend prog metal in ways that are totally unexpected, but totally rewarding all the same.

Though, I will say this record's only problem is that the second half is a lot more interesting than the first. While I do love a lot of the five tracks at the start, I find myself so much more interested in the later half, as it holds a lot more variety for me. While the first half is certainly consistently good, I am more interested in the various genre fusions and change ups that occur from The Lesser Evil through All We Knew And Ever Loved, but that's just me.

Speaking of All We Knew And Ever Loved, man what an amazing closer to all this. While I may find Denial's Aria to be the best track on this album, this track is a close second. This is where their post rock ideals shine thoroughly, capturing an almost Godspeed You! Black Emperor tone and energy, whilst also still sounding very much like Earthside. Just the buildup, each melody going through quietly, rising and falling to where you are not sure when the dramatics will reveal themselves. And when they do show up, they not only feel so otherworldly, but almost like you are experiencing music for the first time ever. This is also where Jamie's guitar reaches a level of magic that I have only seen Efrim Menuck reach in his various post rock projects, being this almost violin-like tone. It all comes to an end with a spattering of organs playing a singular bombastic chord, with the guitars in the back blaring sheepishly as the song closes out. It is basically a musical ecstasy in a way, creating a moment that I may never forget. Seriously, bravo on this wonderful track.

Certainly an album that must be listened to at least once. It features not only some of the most grand moments of prog metal this year, but features a variety of sounds and styles that I think anyone, no matter their musical preference, can certainly enjoy. As for myself, I believe with time and effort Earthside may become one the best prog acts of the 21st century for me, and that prospect may just be around the near future with how much time and effort they put into their music. If you want something good and new in the land of metal, look no further than this record.