Australian band Illyria present a compelling alt-metal sound on their new album Wanderlust, which spans from dreamy intrigue to intensely raucous rock emotion. Prog-rock, metal, and deathcore intertwine with cohesive artfulness. “This album is quite remarkably the darkest and most confronting collection of music I have written,” says main songwriter Ilija Stajic.
Opening track “Armagedda” immerses with its steady atmospheric unfolding. Murky bass and plucky intrigue evolve into trickling guitars, exuding a nocturnal enigma as vocals ascend into a beautiful, string-touched somberness. Showcasing the act’s knack for diverse tonal ranges, “Yesteryear” kickstarts with an onslaught of guitar distortion; growling vocal ferocity ensues, presenting a hard-rock decisiveness following the opening’s more tranquil contemplation. It’s an apt one-two punch, signaling the dynamic listening experience ahead.
Serenity returns on “Frostbite,” where melodic guitars and orchestral hints complement an introspective vocal presence. Glistening keys enter around the two-minute mark, as the vocals’ emotiveness accelerates. The hard-rocking vigor shows thereafter as bursting guitars stir; “Frostbite” is especially exemplary of the band’s eclectic reach, which impresses throughout the entirety of Wanderlust.
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“Yesteryear” and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
