For those who haven’t decided to check out this iconic band, their long-awaited comeback album Sonic Mass is a welcome introduction and more. It’s an immaculately conceived record that melds the best of their early work with a modern sensibility. More importantly, it packs an emotional wallop that few musicians can evoke, especially those who haven’t played together for decades.
Amebix fits into a small group of bands that transcend genre: their offspring Neurosis, Killing Joke and Godflesh. They don’t seek to create albums as much as experiences or bridges to undiscovered parts of human experience. Listeners will feel like Willard heading downriver to face Kurtz in Apocalypse Now. Every stop or detour is potentially ominous or enlightening. Sonic Mass offers another small piece of a jagged roadmap that leads to a heart of darkness.
The rousing “Days” has classical overtones and beautiful vocals; “The Messenger” boasts a Celtic flair that gives way to tribal drumming, and the two-part eponymous track has acoustic riffing trading with a piano. But Sonic Mass is far more than a collection of strong songs; like Arise and their work it’s meant to be listened to in one sitting. Anything else would deprive a listener of the journey.
Sonic Mass is an evocative piece of art, an album that reaches for the sun and comes back with a universe.
(released October 11, 2011 on Easy Action Records)
