Genre : Post-rock
Released : September 16th, 2022
Label : Self-released
FFO : TWDY, Mogwai, Oh Hiroshima, Satellites
Last year when underground Danish post-rockers Weal reached out to me with their debut full-length "Calm", I remember really enjoying the atmosphere they were able to build up in the majority of their tracks but also criticizing the vocals which felt unnecessary in most places and sometimes even detrimental to the music's quality given the fact that not only did they not add much but some of the vocal performances were lackluster.
Well, with their sophomore album "Undivided", it seems Weal have toned it down with the vocals, leaving much more space for the instruments to move around and do their thing freely to the benefit of immersion and atmosphere.
Let's face it, post-rock is one of the most over-saturated genres there is and as a result, making a standout record or finding a unique sound that nobody has ever heard is quite the challenge.
However, when it is done well, despite not being the most gratifyingly creative thing you'll ever hear, well written and well executed post-rock is always a pleasure since it has that ability to drag you deep within its heavy, many layers of instrumentation and send you off on a hypnotic, cosmic journey of the soul, and before you realize, the music stops and almost an hour has gone by. Did you notice? No? Then that's a good sign, and for me personally that is what Weal have managed to pull off on their new sophomore album.
Weal really have a knack for building up fantastic soundscapes that appear simple yet are full of nuances and subtleties, immediately creating a strong sense of atmosphere, which is what post-rock is all about, so I'm glad that they doubled down on the qualities of their debut with this new release!
I still have a bit of a tooth to pick with the vocals when they do appear, especially the second time around on the track "Höghland" but even those have improved compared to the first record so I really can't complain too much.
If you're in need of some fresh, underground post-rock that doesn't completely sound like a copy-paste of God Is An Astronaut or [insert major post-rock pionneering band], then give this record a shot!