Sarin – You Can’t Go Back (album)

Sarin – You Can’t Go Back

Release date: 05th February 2021||Genre: Post-metal||Label: Prosthetic Records

Canada does seem to churn out a good amount of quality metal, though not all of it is fully recognised. Three albums in, and Toronto’s Sarin are still pushing. With You Can’t Go Back they have approached the theme of rebuilding and improving oneself, in the wake of relationship breakdown. There is indeed a palpable sensation that this music has been written to tell a specific story.

Musically, they are billed as post-metal, but, personally, I don’t feel this gives the most accurate first impression. It does take in a swell and fall akin to Cult Of Luna or Isis. That doomy shoe-gaze aspect certainly brings them into the post-metal realm, but they really burst out at the seams with other textures. Equally, one could hear the late grunge of Soundgarden’s Down On The Upside, or sinister prog of Tool’s Undertow. In essence, though, I guess that breed of deviation was the original root of post-metal. It’s just that you don’t hear it as much any more.

Vocals are so sparse here, at some points it seems hard to remember if there have been any. Then, in closer, Leave Your Body, they get laid on thick. It’s somewhat jarring after the music has been allowed so long in the driving seat. Given the unstated aim of this production, that break from normalised song writing formats is very fitting. It also means the listener will get much more from taking time to digest the record in full, which is, again, somewhat unusual today.

Grade: A-
Slow Dragon