Album Review: Shy, Low – Purity Spiral
Reviewed by Oli Gonzalez
The conveyor belt of talent that is Pelagic Records seems to be showing no signs of slowing down! Playgrounded, Hippotraktor, and label flagship band The Ocean have all released new material in the last few weeks. Now it’s Shy, Low’s latest effort “Purity Spiral”.
Inviting delicate melodies from ‘Grace’ open up the album, like those you’d hear in a soothing dream. Though those melodies suddenly become nightmare fuel with an unexpected dark and crushing twist! ‘The Bloat’ Continues with that darkened crushing vibe, though the pace is much quicker. Before venturing down a more intricate psychedelic spiced avenue. The texture is always dense with multiple layers building an impenetrably complex sound. These foundations are built upon whilst teasing more melodic passages in ‘Palmistry’ without straying too far away from these pillars. ‘Burning Fields’ feels like much welcome respite, with the tone more relaxed and minimalist, with the crushing distortion stripped away. All before making a roaring comeback during the early segments of ‘The Charging Brazen Bull’ . Though we’re introduced to some of the more calmer and tranquil segments of the album so far. Moments were the dynamics drop, offering a semblance of calm and time for reflection. All acting as a ruse and a vehicle to build tension before things ramp up once again towards the song’s satisfying crescendo.
So far, the record has ebb and flowed gracefully, with each song seamlessly transitioning into the next and all forming a sum greater than the whole of its parts!
Remember the nightmare analogy at the beginning? Well the album’s title track ‘Purity Spiral’ ensures this continues! Dark, austere, terror-inducing, this wouldn’t look out of place on an Opeth album. All that’s missing are Mike Akerfeldt’s trademark growls and cleans to complete this illusion! Though it has to be said, a 9 minute number feels like a commitment at this stage. 30 minutes of instrumental moving through segments at this speed can be challenging to digest, especially as it feels like these movements haven’t really had time to be fully processed, leading to a bit of listener fatigue. The idea of an 8 minute song on top of that feels like an ordeal initially. Though we’re treated to a much slower introspective piece with much less friction and complexity. Something to reset the senses with something much easier to digest. Perhaps this could have come earlier?
So, a roaring start but throwing perhaps a few too many ideas into the melting pot has resulted in something that feels too much like a test of mental endurance. Shaving just one song would have made a huge difference! As a result, “Purity Spiral” is going to challenge you and test your patience. But for post-metal fans with the time and patience to invest will love Shy,Low.
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