Reports from the Threshold of Death

Artist: Junius

Album: Reports from the Threshold of Death

Release Year: 2011

 

1) Betray the Grave, 2) All Shall Float, 3) Dance on Blood, 4) A Universe Without Stars, 5) Haunts for Love, 6) The Meeting of Pasts, 7) (Spirit Guidance), 8) A Reflection on Fire, 9) Transcend the Ghost, 10) Eidolon & Perispirit.

DIMMEL

Best Song: A Universe Without Stars

Good:

All Shall Float

A Universe Without Stars

Haunts for Love

A Reflection on Fire

Transcend the Ghost

Bad:

N/A

Junius is a very unique band, a strange form of post rock with a spacey atmosphere (that sounds absolutely nothing like Baroness).  They are capable of writing brilliant guitar pieces (such as A Universe Without Stars) but sadly they are content with just writing background guitar (usually).  Most of the songs on this album just wouldn’t stand up without the vocals, which is completely opposite of the normal post rock formula.  The vocals are a different subject all together.  I have listened to this album 4 times and still haven’t decided how I feel about them.  The singer is talented, but the way he uses the inflection of his voice is odd.  Some songs he will change pitch on notes that just feel off.  But in the long run that makes them sound unique and that is a good thing.  Overall, the album is very good but is definitely a grower.  On first listen is has very few standout songs but once you get used to the feel of the music, it is a wonderful album.

9/10

JAKE

Best Song: see below

Good: N/A

Bad: N/A

Well, first of all, it's not something you listen to for the melodies.  There are no hooks,  just plenty of atmosphere and a smooth, smooth flow.  The haunting, operatic vocals are a nice contrast to the simple, pounding riffs, and it all fits together nicely from beginning to end.  So well, in fact, that it's essentially one long song--and a good one at that.

Imagine drifting through a dark, endless cavern, with the walls stretching out for miles around you, the darkness littered with stars and planets.  That is the feeling conveyed by this album.  Pay attention to it, embrace it, drown in it, for that is the essence of this work.  All the wonder and existential horror are laid out not in words but in atmosphere, and that is the keystone of each of these songs.  I don't even pay attention to the lyrics, even though the vocals are quite essential to the essence conveyed here, because the vocals are a complementary instrument rather than a narrative focus.  

Predictably, this album lacks variety.  It's hard to tell the tracks apart without listening to the album  nine or ten times.  Then again, the feeling of drifting through an endless space-cavern is is unlikely to be very dynamic.  Plus, too much variation means you lose that exquisite atmosphere, and that's what makes the whole thing work.

I'm already repeating myself at this point, so I'll just say that I like the album, but I can't see myself craving it, if you know what I mean.  It's a killer soundtrack for a long nighttime drive, but certainly not something to dance and sing along to when you're bored.  

8/10