Having emerged from their death metal past (Heretic Soul) Bipolar Architecture self released 2022’s Depressionland pricked the ears of post-metal enthusiasts and caused intrigue into how their brand of blackened post-metal would morph, this latest incarnation is going to cause more heads to turn across post-metal and all its sub genres.
Metaphysicize pushes a plethora of genres to the forefront which on first listen can be overwhelming, but with a strong appreciation for Der Weg Einer Freiheit and Alcest you can see which inspirations are binding agent for their highway of ideas. There is a lurking likeness to the mayhem of Vildhjarta, if they gave you a moment to relax and wade in gentler waters.
The frenetic urgency of their former life is present but its development into something more progressive and forward thinking is in a stage of evolution which begs experiencing to really understand its qualities. Taking the steep learning curves of post-rock and blackened metal and align it to more instantly gratifying djent and progressive elements takes a degree of nuance and subtlety.
“The screams are lacerating and tortuous, the hypnotic delicacy changes in an instant to abrasive exploration”
The international collective hailing from Berlin and Istanbul led by vocalist and rhythm guitarist Sarp Keski have an entity which is brimming with ideas and inspirations, the title track is ominous with a build that settles into punishing screams over piercing leads lines that paint a progressive blackgaze picture only to ring out in thall chugs leaving our ears ringing to the sound of the haunting leads of Marcus Sander.
Next track ‘Disillusioned’ is the second of an impressive one-two punch as it builds on the work done by the title track and delivers a satisfying slice of prog infused blackened metal leaving very little time for recovery right up until its conclusion.
The highlight of the album ‘Kaygi’ is where they embrace the slow burning traditions of post-rock and it comes at a critical point in the 41 minute run time to catch a moments breath. half the tracks run time is dedicated to a haunting build only to erupt in ruthless blast beats from Fatih Kanik and conclude with a little more thall to mark its end. The unpredictable nature of its calm and chaos is what makes the album fascinating, there is depth to the amalgamation of genres but it has further forms to take before it stands as a fully realised sound.
Keskis lyrics are philosophical and thought provoking examinations on human condition, from the title tracks nihilistic pondering on death to ‘Alienated’ with its musings on those who ‘cannot just simply follow the regular dreams’ Bipolar Architectures ideology matches the complexity in their sound.
The screams are lacerating and tortuous, the hypnotic delicacy changes instantly to abrasive exploration. The captivating blackened metal architecture holds the prog metal aloft with pride. If you are after a band that blends the madness of Vildhjarta and the blackgaze mastery of Møl this is a band willing to take the formula and experiment further and forge a new identity.