Album Review: Downfall Of Gaia - Suffocating In The Swarm Of Cranes

When this German quartet signed with Metal Blade in June, Suffocating In The Swarm Of Cranes was due to be released by three separate indies. Apart from that recent history, Downfall Of Gaia have grown an enviable live reputation in their short career. Up against Epos (2010) and their split with The Hearts Of Emperors, Suffocating... is in a different league. Dark, expansive and diverse, the LP is a fully realised masterwork from this relatively young band. Opening track [Vulnus] builds from atmospheric guitar drones, culminating in a flurry of guitar tremolo and black metal drums reminiscent of the style of Wolves In The Throne Room. Drowning By Wing Beats traverses similar territory, diving into troughs of sludgy dark-crust topped off with part-growled, part-howled vocals that complement the songs.

Apart from the opening and closing tracks, each song clocks around the ten-minute mark, but the arrangements never feel cumbersome. The maturity of their songwriting is something that sets Downfall Of Gaia apart from some of the current wave of post-hardcore/metal. They don't overwork a theme and their songs never reach that overbloated point when a listener tunes out. There are more ideas packed into a single song like Beneath The Crown Of Cranes than you can find on many post-hardcore albums, but the songwriting is not self-indulgent, nor the musicianship especially showy. The songs retain a down-to-earth humbleness that makes for a sobering listening experience. Fall Of Efrafa and Amenra spring to mind as fair comparisons, or even ISIS and Cult Of Luna, and fans of those bands will be rewarded for stumbling upon this upcoming group.