ALBUM REVIEW: SO HIDEOUS LAURESTINE

So Hideous- Laurestine
FFO: Cinematic/Film Score, Atmospheric Black Metal, Post Rock


It doesn't take too much for me to enjoy a band. Just be solid at what you do and make music that will keep my interest. But it takes A LOT for me to be blown away with an album. Creating a new genre or expanding on a genre idea usually works, lots of dynamics, peaks and valleys is a huge plus. Moments that grab your attention and never let you go no matter how hard you try. And finally making a REAL album the artist(s) wanted to make. That is exactly what So Hideous has achieved here with their concept album Laurestine.

(The album is one 40 minute long epic split into 7 tracks)

Laurestine is a concept album about a man and his postmortem experience in his mind within the first 7 minutes after death, where the brain is still active. Easily one of the coolest concepts for an album I've ever heard. I won't spoil the story for those that wanna experience it for themselves, but it is a killer story! The journey begins with Yesteryear. It starts with electronic drums and piano before bursting into an eruption of Black Metal, Post Metal and arguably the coolest thing about the entire album an orchestra and choir! The song serves as almost an overture to the entire album while still having it's own, unique sound. Hereafter is an instrumental that starts with clean guitar and the orchestra gradually building up and up with the drums slowly but surely kicking in with the bass for a climax ending on a softer, piano driven end. Relinquish starts orchestral and builds up to the Atmospheric Black Metal and Post Rock sides of the album again. It's not until over half way through the track when vocals kick in, but when they do, they absolutely blow you away. The second half of the song is one of the most epic sounding pieces on the album and you can envision the battle that the story tells going on in your mind. The Keepsake starts off more in the Post Rock style again with some tribal drumming mixed with the orchestra. About a quarter of the way in, it kicks into a Godspeed You! Black Emperor climax before going back into the Orchestral Black Metal. The second half of the song returns back to the GY!BE vibe. It's almost romantic towards the very end. The True Pierce is the climax of the entire album. Just like in any action or Sci-Fi movie with the final fight taking place, this is the soundtrack to that battle. The dynamics hit you extremely hard and can almost bring a tear to your eye. The end of the song everything gets soft and piano driven once again. The final movement of the album, A Faint Whisper is the grand finale and gives you the sense of glory and a happy ending that you wanted to see happen, much like the triumphant music at the end of Star Wars Episode IV. The music continues to ascend and ascend till the final notes fade away.

Essentially, the whole album is as if Deafheaven, Ihsahn and John Williams made an album together. It's as awesome as that idea sounds. It takes you on an epic journey in an amazing concept and gives you a 40 minute short film in your mind and your ears which will takes you through all of the feelings of fear, anger, brutality, reasoning, and acceptance. Once again as a reminder, this is a 40 minute song that is split into 8 tracks, as long as you keep that in mind about any overuse or repetition of sound; this is one of the crowning achievements in Atmospheric Black Metal and an absolute game changer of all the genres involved.



- 10/10


So Hideous- Laurestine available October 16th via Prosthetic Records