The Pitch: Kentucky post-black project Anagnorisis releases an autobiographical album centered around frontman Zachary Kerr. The cyclical concept includes recordings found with his father at the time of his death. Perfect for fans of Vattnet Viskar, Deadspace, and So Hideous.
What I Like: In addition to the power behind these harsh vocals and the more traditional black/post-black sensibilities that are already done well, there are also other additions that add to the atmosphere. For instance, alto sax on "Disgust & Remorse, Pt I," the ripping organ solo on the title track, piano on "Metamorphosis" and the stringed instruments on "Transparent +." The guitar solos aren't too shabby either. I am intrigued by the story and appreciate how personal this record feels.
What I Don't Like: There are some moments that sound just a tad sappy, and the sound clips start to get distracting. I understand they are part of the concept, but the way in which they are implemented breaks the immersion for me. Also, I sometimes feel as if the album becomes so bogged down in the emotional content that it loses track of how the compositions are progressing musically. As a result some of the songs end up getting a little boring.
The Verdict: Peripeteia is a highly emotive and personal record that does a good job of expressing Zachary's feelings, but not always in a way that feels interesting. The band clearly has high aspirations for their sound given the scope and varied instrumentation, but I think they have room to grow in terms of building it all into strong compositions.
Flight's Fav's: "Disgust & Remorse, Pt II," "5306 Morningside"