ninehertz

There’s a whole fistful of labels lined up to put out this record by French quartet Membrane, perhaps telling of an excitement for its release and it’s telling that, even though this is part post-metal, and acknowledging my general aversion to the genre, this has me hooked from early on.

The start, on Raise, does that to you – straight into Amenra-like apocalyptic noise vistas, an incredible sound with vocals delivered in an interesting half-spoken manner, it touches on the great blackened hardcore tradition of their country. The post-metal elements pervade the album – the ghost of Neurosis lingers a few times – but there’s much more to Deathly Silence, providing it with its own identity.

The title track for instance has a post-rock beginning before turning gnarly through a bristling hardcore spirit. Fire and Fear has an earnest vocal and minimal instrumentation opening that could be of an emo or post-hardcore world, a thought still true even as it turns significantly heavier, when it also brings in potential Will Haven comparisons. When it really ramps up it brings with it an electricity that’s easy to get excited about.

Their post-metal is good, but their forebearers and influences show a little too obviously. Where Membrane succeed (and for the majority) is bringing in other genre elements – noise-rock, post-hardcore, doom – to create something new and individual.