Oh, how overused is the phrase “hotly anticipated” and how rarely is it the case. Indeed, I shudder to even write it in this instance, despite the fact that, for Harakiri For The Sky and Scorched Earth, it is absolutely true.
It has been four years since 2021’s stunning Mӕre and, while the band have busied themselves with revamped versions of their first two albums, fans have had to endure a long wait for new material. Of course, this being a band that take their time to create each blazing piece of art, the wait has proved to be more than worthwhile, with Scorched Earth proving to be another remarkable outpouring. Tastefully packaged in Brvno Gonzalez’s gorgeous artwork, it captures a dark snapshot of the tragically polarised world in which we currently reside, proving to be both lyrically and musically stunning in the process.
The album opens with Heal Me, a single piano note announcing the arrival of the band as the distant swirl of the guitars comes slowly into focus. The resultant track, a dynamic and constantly shifting piece that finds explosive percussion and fiery guitars bracketing Tim Yatras’ tortured yet melodic vocals, is the return for which fans have been waiting, and it neatly demonstrates both the band’s ability to craft music of real weight and the stunningly sympathetic production work of Kristian Kohle. Something of an epithet for the band’s existence, Keep Me Longing is simply sublime, with an opening as beautiful as anything to which Harakiri For The Sky have yet put their name. Built around a haunting piano motif, the track builds towards the apocalyptic post-metal guitars that lie at its tumultuous heart, and the result is a multi-hued piece that ebbs and flows across its lengthy run time. It’s followed by the abrasive, post-hardcore of Without You I’m Just A Sad Song, which ups the tempo but maintains the same sense of eternal yearning that sits at the core of the band’s existence.
Keeping the pace brisk, the thunderous No Graves But The Sea is one of those rare tracks which, played at a suitable volume, seems to merge with the elements outside until you imagine yourself, cast adrift and threatened with submersion. A powerful and evocative track, it perfectly underscores the band’s ability to transport the listener where they will through the power of sonic suggestion alone. It’s followed by the lighter touch With Autumn I’ll Surrender, which offers throbbing synths and a taut rhythm, although the explosive guitars are never too far behind.
Rather more reflective is the mid-tempo I Was Just Another Promise You couldn’t Keep, which hides a gorgeous melody amidst the sweeping folds of its riffs. Once again, J.J. shows his rare ability to scream in a manner that feels both melodic and impassioned, only adding to the lingering sense of despair that hangs over the track. With engaging leads, it’s a memorable piece that proves deeply cathartic, paving the way for the stunning finale – the heartrending Too Late For The Goodbyes. A genuine epic, it not only finds the band exploring new avenues of sound, but it also adds additional layers of vocals courtesy of Serena Cherry, dipping into ISIS territory in the process. By turns savage and haunting, it provides Scorched Earth with the dramatic ending it deserves.
With Scorched Earth, Harakiri For The Sky prove once and for all that they have no use for genres. Call it post-hardcore, or post-black, or post-metal, or call it what you want, the band stands in a field of one. While it’s easy enough to find sonic reference points, it’s the emotion that matters, as it is the primary focus of everything the band does. Hardly an album to listen to piecemeal, Scorched Earth is a record in which to lose yourself and, whether you find yourself battered by the towering waves of No Graves But The Sea, or washed up on the unfamiliar shores of Too Late For Goodbyes, it is a sonic trip you’ll want to take over and over. 9.5/10
