Review Summary: My hands keep stretching, reaching for the skies, hoping that one day I will obtain my goal.
When your whole being is consumed by a task/goal at hand, focus is of greatest eminence. Everything you do, whether it be eating, thinking, or breathing, are sacrificed and dedicated to this destination at hand. To the surrounding world such allegiances can be awe-inspiring. "Burning for the Ancient" relates in a similar fashion to such pursuing doctrines. When a swimmer is striving to smash a time or even the world record for long distance, audiences can't help in noticing the skill level and grace required for such a feat. Although everyone knows the swimmer is going to continue with the same strokes and underwater kicks, raising and lowering their head during each breath, redundancy does not deter from the enjoyment. Addaura is likened to such spectacles.
Addaura is mostly known as a Cascadian Black Metal band which is basically a scene of black metal artist' emerging out of the Pacific Northwest region of North America; such as Wolves in the Throne Room. They play a type of atmospheric black metal with longer than typical song lengths. The Ep "BFTA" averages at about 13 minutes per song with 4 tracks. This overall Ep length of 52 minutes is almost unheard in the world of Ep's, giving "BFTA" more than enough time to show it's listeners what it's capable of. With so much time dedicated to an Ep, fans of Addaura should expect a full length very soon.
Not only does "BFTA" draw emotions of facsination from its listeners, the nature of such lengthy songs allow the audience to zone out and become encapsulated by it's unforced but forward pressing characteristics. It's as if you've become the swimmer embarking on this journey of life and freedom, challenging your own wits to self glorification. Before the quest is undertaken the right mindset must be obtained; knowing that a tedious excursion awaits you. The soft acoustic interlude of "City Light[In Still Dark Forenoon Silence]" seperates your mind from the world around you. The building tom tom patterns prepare you for the dive into the ocean. As you take your plunge you know there is no turning back. You know from this piont you have done everything in your power to prepare for the hurt and pain you will feel as you as you slowly reach your azimuth. When the drums come in with medolic pushing tremolos you know it's you against the elements; the freezing water, the shark infested waters, fatigue, and doubt. This is what you've come for, this is what makes you feel alive, this is why you do it. I will not give up, I WILL keep striving.
"The Muses Thro' Their Bowers" represents the possible breaking point with full steam ahead blast beast that only let up for seconds until resolve is once again obtained for furtherance. The long hull of mid-high tempos are a play on emotions; contemplations that carry you through till the end. The neverending swaying melodies represent the waves of resistance, yet the motivating factors behind your endeavors; they are constant, yet vary depending on swell push which occasionally changes tide. "Solace Beneath a Greying Sky" is found as you near the end of this journey. You know you can obtain it. The mellow ambient pianos scream in your mind "This is it!". Second wind is achieved and press you once more for the finale. Being the most gratifying part of "BFTA" as is the conclusion to your journey, all emotions are released into a barrage of tears and euphoria at the same time as the melodies and climax flourish. The pain of of hours upon hours of non-stop striving are reaching their plateau. The creshendoe-like melodies are your anthem to succession; the profusion to a higher being.
With an Ep that pushes boundaries of not just musical technicality, but emotion, Addaura prove their worth amogst their contemporaries such as Fell Voices, Deafheaven, and WITTR. If you like atmospheric black metal you will love this.
