When it comes to hardcore, France has had a lot of bands that have taken a noticeably darker tone and infused elements of post metal and sludge/doom into their material. One of the more prominent examples from the past decade and a half is Celeste, whose infusion of black metal and sludge with post hardcore was as bleak as destructive as anyone else out there. But there are a lot of other French bands who aren’t as widely known abroad, with The Prestige being a great example. Part of the reason for that is a long gap between releases, as the group’s most recent release prior to this year’s Isthmos was back in 2015. At that time their sound was a blend of darker post hardcore and The Chariot type mathcore with some dips into slower and reflective post-metal. In the time that’s passed between the two albums The Prestige has significantly transformed their sound, keeping some of the aggression and density of their prior work while pushing towards a more methodical cadence and emphasis on atmosphere.
Amer may have kicked off with a noisier intro track that built up over its run-time, but it’s clear upon pressing play that Isthmos is channeling some different textures right from the beginning. Rather than launching right into darker or heavier instrumentation, “Léthé” has shimmering melodies and electronic flourishes that are much brighter than you might be expecting for this type of music. But once things shift over to “Debris” the heavy comes right back with incredibly dense instrumentation and riffs that feel like they are blurring the lines between the post hardcore and metalcore end of the spectrum. Things expand at a slower, sludgier tempo, reminding me just as much of prominent post metal bands as the hardcore end of the spectrum. “Father of None” gives off hints of Celeste and Cult of Luna with shifts between mid-tempo and faster arrangements that layer dark and desolate melodies over top of a powerful foundation, but The Prestige combines these elements together in ways that don’t feel like a copy of either band. Once you reach “Rose du Désert”, the album heads into more atmospheric and reflective territory, as this track lets somber melodies drive things forward for much of its run before reaching a crushing peak. Here the arrangements blur the lines between post rock and post metal, and this direction continues for the remainder of Isthmos. There are still returns to post hardcore and metalcore in short bursts, but the more methodical cadence and way the atmosphere builds over time gives off a different feel. A few of the shorter tracks do blur together slightly compared to the sprawling peaks of the longer ones, but the material remains consistently engaging from beginning to end.
Comparing Isthmos to the group’s previous material, you can hear how much Alex Diaz’s vocal work has evolved. “Debris” provides a great early demonstration of what he can do, as initially the performance offers lower growls but then shift between more emotional screaming and singing. It’s clear this is where the band has retained a lot of their post hardcore influence, as there’s a rawness and fragility to the higher pitches, but the metallic sheen comes roaring back when the growls take over. “Rose du Désert” finds The Prestige switching over to French from English, and there’s a sense of beauty and introspection behind Diaz’s singing on this track. Compared to the more outright aggression the vocals offered on Amer the approach here feels more calculated and gives the screams more weight. The only piece that didn’t click with me is the spoken word at the beginning of “The Ascend”, as it felt a little jarring and out of place.
The Prestige hinted at some of these elements in the past, but Isthmos completely transforms their sound and pushes further into the post metal and sludge-infused hardcore realm. There’s a consistent flow and narrative from track to track that keeps the tension and atmosphere at their peak levels, and the way that everything is layered together results in new details that pop out with each listen. It does feel like there’s room for this evolution to be expanded upon even further, but if you’re a fan of post metal or darker and sludgier hardcore this is an album worth seeking out. Isthmos is available from BANSHIES.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg