I am more than aware that Gaerea are not the same band that I started my journey with, and far from the band that I saw in Bristol as they continued their promotion of the fantastic ‘Limbo’ album in early 2022. I was also not a huge fan of where they started to head in 2022’s Mirage and absolute not a fan of where they reached in 2024’s Coma. So, now we have ‘Loss’….and what will we find?
Primarily, we find a band that have done almost everything in reverse. They have become more masked and more mysterious (even now changing their names to letters of the Greek alphabet), they have all but lost the black metal thread that certainly ran through Limbo, they have discarded their path towards a distinctly ‘post’ identity…and, on the face of it, chosen to concentrate on being one of the biggest metal bands on the planet.
On paper, there are elements of ‘Loss’ that I shouldn’t like. Indeed, I have tried really hard not to like them. There are some sung choruses that verge very much into metalcore territory and would easily share a stage with Architects or Parkway Drive, but then there is a phenomenal Gojira-esque feeling throughout the whole album – particularly in tracks like opener ‘Luminary’, ‘Hellbound’ or the hard-hitting ‘Phoenix’. There is an honesty here.
Blistering levels of production, intelligent song writing, first class vocal performances and an insanely effective, yet utterly commercial, drum sound combine to create what you cannot deny (much as you want to) is a stunning piece of work. By the time ‘Nomad’ has reminded you of what this band once were with it’s Limbo-esque trem lines, and closer ‘Stardust’ has carried you upon nearly 8 minutes of exhilarating soundscapes, you realise that choosing to be ‘progressive’ with your sound can be a very solid move – if your sound is strong enough to start with. Like Gojira’s, Gaerea’s most definitely was.
However, I genuinely don’t feel that Gaerea have created ‘Loss’ with any aim of headlining medium sized metal festivals. I think they created it because they are a bunch of folks who don’t want to stagnate and want to continuously evolve. But, from the 46 minutes of progressive blackened metalcore that is on display here, it is abundantly clear they have done both. Very, very well.
Best Paired With: Homer’s Iliad, tight fitting trousers and going inter-railing.
Reviewed by Jaff.
Loss by Gaerea is out now on century Media records.
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