Fallujah - Dreamless (2016)

No matter how much you try to cover the whole metal spectre, you are always bound to miss out on something huge. I first heard about Fallujah about 2 years ago, when they released "The Flesh Prevails". I thought that they sounded like an interesting group, but I never got around to actually giving them a fair chance. The same thing was about to happen when the band released their 3rd full length album "Dreamless", I most certainly did not listen to it as soon as it was released. This time though, I were more determined to take them into my heart, seeing if they were worthy of all the hype. As it turned out, they were.

"Dreamless" is an impressive piece of music, combining so many elements that should not work, but they do. All of these extreme beats and atmospheric feelings blend together to make a grand picture, a beautiful painting that not even Van Gogh or Michelangelo could ever paint. You feel like you are floating in space, traveling aimlessly past all the planets and suns while listening to "Dreamless", and let me tell you, that is an incredible feeling, something that everyone should experience.

However, it takes time to indulge all of this, you must be patient enough to understand it all. While "Dreamless" does have tons of exciting moments in it, it could not be considered the catchiest album out there. The structures here are fluid, flowing through this effervescent stream that never repeats the same pattern, making you enjoy the moment more than remembering it. Of course, that does not mean that you will not end up with amnesia after the album is over, you will remember bits here and there, but your memory must be something special to remember everything.

This does not matter too much though, since the band performs in such a way that you will just sit back, relax, and take it all in with a huge grin. The guitar work of Scott Carstairs and Brian James is extremely clean, with some impeccable solos and cool slings, while Andrew Baird's drumming are aggressive, with a touch of sensitivity, emphasizing just when it needs too. The vocals, delivered by Alex Hofmann, are the perfect counterweight to the more atmospheric tones, bringing this Yin and Yang formation together. It is a new kind of beauty that I cannot really explain, you have to hear it to believe it.

"Dreamless" is a stunning album that is the ultimate showing to why Fallujah is one of the leading young metal bands out there now. Their unique brand of progressive and atmospheric death metal is something truly special, something you encounter few times during your life time. These guys have done solid works with both "The Harvest Wombs" and "The Flesh Prevails", but "Dreamless" paves the way for the future of this genre, taking it to a whole new level. Simply put, this record is a haunting beauty that surely is one of the highlights of this year, so do not miss out on it.

Songs worthy of recognition: Dreamless, Adrenaline, The Void Alone, Amber Gaze

Rating: 9/10 Lacunas

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