It’s been a long time since we last encountered post-rockers A Light Within and it has been too damn long. Following on from 2013’s ‘preface’ and 2015’s ‘body matter’, ‘Epilogue’ is a four-track EP that captures everything that makes A Light Within great and adds a whole new depth to the production work, allowing the band’s complex and ambitious arrangements to shine with even greater clarity than on past outings.
Opening track, ‘Page #9 Shells’ perfectly sets the mood of this new EP. Emerging from a stormy haze that brings to mind the futuristic world of Blade Runner, giant riffs churn the darkness as Kyle Brandt’s enigmatic vocals (somewhere between Jazz Coleman and Chino Moreno) pour into the void. This is heavy, cerebral music, engaging with the head and yet with enough visceral might (courtesy of guitarists Jeff Irvine and Josh Bennet) to make the listener feel somewhat like a rabbit trapped in the headlights. For long-time fans of the band, it’s almost like they’ve never been away, although there’s an argument that the time spent honing production skills has been a firm benefit of the wait. Second track ‘page #54 chemical drive’ segues directly from the first, Nick Sloan showing a subtle dexterity on the drums that drives the track without overpowering it. Kyle’s ability to adapt his voice to fit the needs of any given song is once again highlighted as he delivers a performance that sits more comfortably in the post-punk bracket, richly melodic and yet with a cold, alien quality to it that seems beamed in from some far-flung world. With guitars drenched in reverb, it is Andy Schiller’s bass that keeps things from coming adrift and it is a pleasure to turn the volume way up and allow the music to wash over you in waves. Arguably an EP highlight, ‘Page #27 surrounded by astronauts’ has a vintage Pink Floyd feel to it (think ‘one of these days…’ with hints of DSOTM) with its evil bass line and space mission samples. Kyle stretches his range here and the band as a whole gel on a piece that carefully places its punches, building to a climax that is all the more effective for the restraint the band show. The final track, ‘Page #35 an educated gentleman’, sees Jeff and Josh laying down, huge, droning riffs as Nick explores a jazzier percussive style. It is the perfect conclusion to the EP, once again treading the fine line between spacey and cohesive, the band maintaining a tight focus worthy of A perfect Circle whilst exploring more ethereal landscapes reminiscent of My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth.
It has been a long wait for the ‘Epilogue’ EP, but a worthy one. I’ve long professed my love for A Light Within and my only complaint is that the band are not more prolific. That said, a firm commitment to quality over quantity is admirable and there is no question that the band have continued to evolve their own style and sound over the course of these three EPs. What comes next is anyone’s guess, but, with the band’s unique style now firmly entrenched, a full-length LP would be most gratefully received. In the meantime, ‘Epilogue’ is the highlight of the band’s remarkable output to date. 9
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