Review Summary: WE PUT THE DENT IN DJENT
Basick Records are quickly becoming a label known for signing bands that push the boundaries of hardcore and metal. With such acts as Sikth, The Algorithm, Devil Sold His Soul and Intervals on their roster, Basick is establishing a solid niche. Antwerp based 4 piece Bear are one of the lesser known members of this fledgling crew, signing to Basick for the release of their second LP, “Noumenon”.
Noumenon is a curious mix of djent and hardcore. Riffs that would easily fit into a djent band’s eager debut have here been adapted into a more aggressive hardcore style, displaying the same chaotic chugging style as many similar acts, while being absent of the irritating over-production that djent is so often maligned for. Bear is perhaps most aptly described as a hardcore band dabbling in djent, as their sound is less heavy than that of their scene contemporaries, yet is in the same style rhythmically, utilizing the same lumbering, repetitive chugs. Bear is adept at building momentum through these slower more rhythmic sections, often switching between crushing repetitive riffs into fast paced chaotic releases.
Overall, Bear still mainly lean towards metalcore. Many of their riffs follow the same unpredictable style of a botch-esque band while still feeling extremely controlled and surgical. Spindly guitar work lies neatly over blastbeats and rhythmic vocals that work with each other, creating one cohesive sound. Part of this is due to the fact there’s very little overlap on Noumenon. Many bands rely on heavy handed tactics to make themselves sound heavier and more extreme, making it very refreshing to find that dissonance, feedback and static is largely absent from Noumenon. Everything has that clear tone that djent often has without sounding neutered or sterile, meaning the chaotic feel being created is through the intelligent structures of the songs, not lazily shoehorning breakdowns and static into the mix.
When Bear does delve fully into metalcore territory, they do so with devastating consequences. Vocalist Maarten has some truly forceful screams and mid-range shouts that he uses to great effect through Noumenon, being very skilful at changing his vocal style when appropriate. Deep heavy vocals come through during breakdowns and heavier lumbering moments, strong deep cleans are displayed on the chorus to Aconite, staying quite comfortably in Maarten’s comfort zone but adding some surprising and nice variety.
Lyrically, Bear are strangely philosophical. Noumenon itself means (as written on the liner notes of their cd) “A thing as it is in itself, as distinct from a thing that is knowable by the senses through phenomenal attributes”, a core concept in Immanuel Kant’s philosophy. As far as my limited education tells me, in other words Noumenon is the idea that there are things we can know that lie outside our senses. Leaving the philosophical implications of this concept aside, Noumenon as an idea is represented through vocalist Maarten’s almost questioning tone that he takes, asking whether “It makes sense to you?” , “how does it taste?” and “Is this our mental state”?
Where Noumenon falters is with diversity. The songs all fall under the 4 minute range with one exception, with little to no variation from the style previously described. This lack of diversity leaves Noumenon feeling stale towards the end. Not that the later songs are not as good as the earlier ones, as like I said Bear is a talented band and their songs are well crafted escapades into their unique mix metal genres, but more that the by the time you get to them a pattern not unlike this albums artwork emerges and things get irritatingly repetitive. The best moments on the album are the ones which add just a little something more to the mix, such as the almost catchy vocals on Aconite or the robotic, filtered vocals in The Falling Line. These snippets, along with Bears largely fresh core sound give merit to the bands own claim, “WE PUT THE DENT IN DJENT”
