Junius – Days of the Fallen Sun EP
29th March 2014Junius is one of those bands that as you listen you can’t help but feel like these guys have got something here.
Their newest EP, “Days of the Fallen Sun“, is a journey into understanding who and what this band actually is. The album is filled with soundscapes and atmosphere that transport you through a tunnel of noise and melody tied together with calculated purpose and precision. It’s a very interesting mix that launches you into a musical journey rather than a flat listening experience.
Junius are extremely good at invoking and expelling emotion through their musical craft. I’m not even sure how to describe it; not quite metal, not quite rock. I guess it could be considered post-rock, but at this point why even try and label it. The music is dark and vast while the vocals help control and conduct the musical landscape. To be quite honest, the vocals take more of a pop approach. They are very simple yet ultra catchy and the melodies well thought out.
While the music sets the tone and mood, the vocals definitely carry the songs and lead you on your journey. Joseph Martinez‘s vocal approach has more in common with post-punk then it does with anything remotely metal. At times his vocal delivery is very reminiscent of Peter Murphy‘s (Bauhaus) or even Ian Curtis (Joy Division). He has almost a monotinous tonality but makes such good rhythmic and melodic choices it more than makes up for his possible limitations.
There are times the band remind me of later day Deftones, even Joseph‘s vocals can be comparable to Chino‘s – but only at times. Most of the time I feel like I’m listening to a atmospheric doom-y interpretation of post-punk glory. While super hard to describe and not as direct, I believe fans of Katatonia will latch unto this as well as those fans on the other side of metal, ala Pelican will also relate.
Whatever this band is doing I hope they continue because they definitely have a fresh unique sound that is hard to categorize, which is the goal of any band trying to create. I was so taken aback by this release I started researching the band and was elated to discover they have quite a few previous releases that are just as enticing. I strongly urge you to listen and of course judge for yourself but “Days of the Fallen Sun” is probably one of the best listens of the year.
Check out the video of ‘Forgiving The Cleansing Meteor‘ –
Score: 9.5 out of 10
ALBUM INFO
Track Listing:
01 – (Mediations)
02 – The Time Of Perfect Virtue
03 – (Shamanic Rituals)
04 – A Day Dark With Night
05 – (The Purge)
06 – Battle In The Sky
07 – (Nothingness)
08 – Forgiving The Cleansing Meteor
Record Label: Prosthetic Records
Release Date: February 18, 2014
For Fans of: Katatonia, Paradise Lost, Opeth, Swallow the Sun, Isis, Pelican
