DAYBREAK

Released three days before 2011 came to a close, Montresor's debut skirted under the radar for the first couple of weeks since coming out. Fortunately, I came across the band describing and linking their music, and I liked what I read. Apparently, this new Australian group were heavily influenced by the post-black metal stylings of Alcest and Les Discrets, a scene in black metal called 'blackgaze' with which I've become rather attached. On top of the metal sound, Montresor also promised a strong King Crimson-esque, rock sound in their music. These two elements mixed together could only come together into something I would like. 'Daybreak' is a worthy effort by all means; plenty of passion and potential can be here in the work here. All the same, Montresor's sound seems uncomfortably placed in regards to its main influences. Montresor is influenced by metal, but they're never heavy enough to be metal; influenced by prog rock, but a little too heavy to be labelled as a progressive rock band. Montresor ultimately comes off as a promising post-rock act with a slight edge to their music.

There will be some debate as to what sort of music Montresor actually makes, but the Alcest influences stand tall indeed. As the album opens, the shimmering guitar ambiance gives the music a bright shine, although there aren't the sort of gloomy melodies here that I tend to expect from 'blackgaze'. For the most part, Montresor gears their performance towards a balance between heavy riffs, and more atmospheric moments. The approach has been largely explored and exhausted over the past decade by a slew of post-rock acts, but Montresor still excels at times. The excellent introduction to the album is a great example of everything that goes right with Montresor's debut. Although the influences are easy to point out, the band are able to create great atmosphere with their sound, while maintaining an organic, even raw element to the music.

Montresor are best with the more atmospheric moments of their sound. When they attempt metal, I definitely hear the intensity of the guitar sound, but the compositions lack the sort of edge that would justify being so loud. Work in a little dissonance into the guitar tones, and you have a heavy side of the band that will undoubtedly appeal to disciples of the sludge metal school. Although Montresor have a fine grasp of atmosphere, a less basic production could have helped the performance really take flight. In short, I have the feeling that 'Daybreak' is a sure sign of a band testing the waters. There has evidently been a great deal of thought put into the music, but Montresor haven't yet found the sound they are destined for.

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