Eric Quach has been producing works of experimental guitar and electronic drone for about a decade as thisquietarmy. His first full length album since last year's Rebirths, Anthems for Catharsis has as much weight and heaviness as its dramatic title would imply. A perfect balance of dissonance and beauty, the six songs elegantly drift from darkness to lightness, often within the confines of a single piece.
Quach's work on this record draws from nearly every genre that could be associated with the word "rock."Multitracked guitars stretch out in every direction; mixed with (or processed to sound like) synthesizers, all the while drum programming keeps things moving in a strict, yet memorable rhythm.Some of the bleakest moments appear on the opening "Ruminations":deep sustained guitar noise and a distant sound that sounds like monstrous banging on a metal door ensure the mood is anything but light.
Darkness abounds on "Masquerade" as well, via big, cavernous drums and heavy guitar squalls.Compared to many other points on the record there is a more dominant, forceful sound, but it comes in a slower, dirge-laden package.Even with this force, there are long, beautiful stretches of melody that result in a song with more depth than most heavy songs such as this would have.
The other pieces, however, tend to journey from dark to light passages within their self-contained duration.The slow and majestic "From Darkness Redux" is a gauzy mass of sustained guitar melodies and almost synth-like passages, buoyed by a forceful underlying rhythm.The sound is a perfect mix of dour and uplifting:a precarious balance done exceptionally well.The complex rhythms and layered melodies of "Accommodator" result in a similar structure, but with heavier drama and transitioning from dungeon darkness into soaring, beautiful heights.
The album’s final composition, "Closure," is the most fully realized and complex work on an extremely strong album.Beginning from a vast space of droning feedback and plinking noises via guitar, Quach builds the piece up, adding in what sounds like electronics and bent guitar sounds, resulting in a richer and very powerful mix.Finally, he piles on glistening, expansive tone to a powerful climax, ultimately stripping things down to end on a beautifully understated note.
Anthems for Catharsis is yet another masterwork from Eric Quach's thisquietarmy project.His ability to balance extreme moods is unparalleled, and this album beautifully drifts from both sides.Gorgeous melodies, metronomic rhythms, and complex atmospheres abound, but perhaps its strongest asset is the sense of composition.Rather than just collections of sounds or noises, these feel like actual songs, with a distinct flow and development, resulting in a brilliant record.
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