A Switzerland-based atmospheric post-metal band, Herod. The band’s third studio album that embarks as being their greatest work to date. Herod’s newest album perfectly demonstrates their great knowledge and talent for their scene. Heavy tangy riffs and vocals; very nice surprises here and there. This brings heavy and catchy into a perfect blend of murky melody. I’ve heard only about how this record compares to Meshuggah at times. I agree with that correlation, but can only associate Herod’s sound with themselves. Everything that was remarkable from Sombre Dessein is here. The band’s inspiration does have many familiar names across my taste; Cult of Luna, Meshuggah, early Dillinger Escape Plan, and combining the American math-core scene with Swedish progressive metal innovators. It combines to create this monstrous amount of sound and headbang worthy parts throughout this record. This is just the surface of the record’s sound. One of the most surprising tracks of this year, and only second to The Ocean’s “Unconformities.” “The Ode to…” is in collaboration with four members from a famous choir, the Les Mysterès des Voix Bulgares choir. Whilst being gloomy but exuberant it exceeds your expectations ultimately. Holding your ears as a restless hostage, Herod knows how to deliver in the perfect heavy and uncanny way. The second half of the album holds up just as well as its first half. One of the greatest interlude titles of all time, “The Intergloom” is a perfectly atmospheric and who would have known, gloomy piece. The keys in the background tie it up for me as one of the best interlude tracks that stand alone well. A familiar voice returns for the closing track “The Prophecy” my personal favorite track. Loïc Rosetti returns for another collaboration, and perfectly contrasts with Mika Pilat’s heavy, heavy vocals. (Fun fact: Mike Pilat was one of two vocals during The Ocean Collective. Which is why their sound will forever remind me of the old Ocean Collective despite the small similarities.) The song is unabashed to try and one up itself, and it goes beyond belief. The riff (and its tone) is unmatched to outdo, and creates this heavy weight with it. It is like an acoustic anchor that sinks you further into its instrumentation. I am excited to see where this instant-icon of an album leads them into the future.

Highlight Tracks (In order from favorite to overtly my favorite): “The Icon,” “The Ode to…” and “The Prophecy”

9/10 The ship is still sinking down. By an anchor of atmospheric post-metal melody, and heavy riffs… the heavy riffs… the bombastic riffs.