ALBUM REVIEW: CONJURER - MIRE
Since forming in 2015, Conjurer have been steadily making waves in the underground UK metal scene. Their 2016 EP simply titled I was an incredible statement of intent that seemed to garner even more interest and attention. Over the past few years they have played hundreds of shows across the country and don’t appear to be showing any sign of slowing down. This week marks the release of their debut full length Mire.
Conjurer’s facebook page describes the band as Post-Sludge. Their bandcamp page lists them as anything between Black Metal to Doom to Hardcore. For anyone confused by the myriad of sub-genres constantly emerging in underground metal, worry not. Conjurer are all of these and so much more. Lead Vocalist/Guitarist has stated in numerous interviews that “you can’t pigeonhole the music” and “we try our best to avoid stagnation.” This is evident the moment that you press play on Mire. Opening track Choke doesn’t waste any time getting started as we are instantly drawn into raw and bone-crunchingly heavy guitars that switch from dirge like bass to frantic hardcore riffs so fast you can barely get a grip on the song before it changes course again and again in numerous directions. Within the first six minute track, Conjurer have gone through more riffs and melodic shifts than many bands manage throughout an entire record. Second track Hollow builds on this with a masterful command over dynamics as the vocals shift from barely a whisper to harsh and powerful screams. there isn’t a single moment where you are not left guessing what may or may not come next.
A lot of bands may stumble when they attempt something this ambitious, especially on their debut release. However Conjurer appear to have already perfected their sound before ever entering the studio. The occasional use of classical guitar in Of Flesh Weaker Than Ash calls to mind parallels with Employed To Serve’s - Apple Tree, whereas the use of clean vocals in Thankless is comparable to Cult Of Luna’s most recent album featuring Julie Christmas. All the while the guitars sound like a glorious blend of Gojira and The Dillinger Escape Plan.
It is mind boggling to comprehend that this is Conjurer’s debut album and the idea that they have barely scratched the surface begs belief. With many people already hailing Mire as a potential Album Of The Year and rightfully so, I cannot think of any record this exciting since Oathbreaker’s Rheia!
10/10
Personal Highlight: Track 3 Thankless takes the listener on a phenomenal 8 minute journey through which Conjurer tick off every trick in their book without even breaking a sweat.
