ninehertz

The Bratislavan JDØS blog and record label, or Jablká daleko od stromu as they used to be known by, did wonders for opening up and advertising the best of Slovakian doom to the rest of the world, particularly through a compilation series that we found countless new bands through in the last decade.

Their reach has expanded, geographically into neighbouring countries, and in terms of genre, with new releases from across the heavy spectrum. Rana are the latest band introduced to me due to the trust I have in the label, and its another amazing band to find.

Cesta k ruinám is only four-tracks long but does plenty within its 21 minutes to make a favourable impression. Theirs is a sound of dense post-metal powered through by a crust rawness, pushing it at times into that fabled crossbreed genre of neo or emo-crust. Add in moments of exhilarating trad black metal guitar pomp (at the beginning of Spád) and strangely emotively gruff vocals and there’s a world within such a short play time to discover.

Naturally, there are nods to Neurosis within, even their early more punk laced albums. They can be felt in the record's clear ambition too, as well as its heavy surges that wash you along with it. It is a excellent release – powerful, heavy, emotional and distinctive.