Review / 200 Words Or Less
Drain the Sky
Haunted by Rivers

Level Plane (2008) Tohm

Drain the Sky – Haunted by Rivers cover artwork
Drain the Sky – Haunted by Rivers — Level Plane, 2008

"Haunted by Rivers" begins Drain the Sky's first release on Level Plane Records. Use of repetition, low vocal pitches, and no percussion make the song oppressive. However, the rest of Haunted by Rivers does not follow in the same fashion. "Sightless" increases tempo and dabbles in hardcore punk. I really like the juxtaposition between the first two tracks. Everything about the music is completely different, and much more pleasing. The eponymous track sets the mood for the rest of the album, but the remaining eight songs show Drain the Sky's truer nature. Slow and growing introductions lead to heavier and more powerful sections. The final song, "Rivers," is a revisiting of the first track, but with distortion, drums, and a quicker pace. Haunted by Rivers will easily be enjoyed by fans of Isis and Boris alike.

6.5 / 10Tohm • July 23, 2009

Drain the Sky – Haunted by Rivers cover artwork
Drain the Sky – Haunted by Rivers — Level Plane, 2008

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