EP REVIEW: Soft Eyes – Ba’al

Much like the tides, post-black metallers BA’AL have been a constant, shifting presence as they’ve explored sludge, black metal, post metal and occasional mathy tendencies; with their latest EP Soft Eyes, and a revitalised line-up, they’re keen to show not only the UK but the wider post-metal scene what they’ve been cooking up. Such is the beauty of EPs – a chance to stretch legs, explore new sonic ground – as Soft Eyes does exactly that without straying too far from their core of post-black metal.

Opener Ornamental Doll sprawls across its nine-and-a-half minutes, birdsong giving way to frosty howls and churning melodic guitars in a dizzying about-face in mood. Its blend of death metal moments along with towering post-metal are only spoiled by a somewhat overdrawn outro. The quintet show a canny ear for when to shift gears within songs; the first third of Ornamental Doll ends with an infusion of warmth and serene ambience. Naturally that can’t last, but that warmth is scattered throughout the three tracks of Soft Eyes to make something altogether more welcoming than might be initially expected of the genre. 

Yearn To Burn Bright offers up tasteful, gothic synth that melds into the shifting guitars to lend an air of menace, particularly with vocalist Joe Stamps’ blackened screams. It’s clear the years away since their 2020 debut full-length Ellipsism have given BA’AL plenty to think about, and Soft Eyes offers some of their most emotive work to date, particularly on finale Bamber Bridge, whose occasional folky twang makes it otherworldly amidst the fury. 

At just three songs and almost 30 minutes, Soft Eyes is a mammoth undertaking for both band and listener, but one that doesn’t feel dragging at any point. Despite the oft-lumbering tempos, BA’AL are well-versed in structuring their epics to encompass torrents of blast beats as much as Bamber Bridge’s gentle intro. Most importantly, they deploy all of those tricks across Soft Eyes to make its structure more unconventional than repetitive, and all the more engrossing for it. Sit back and be swept away. 

Rating: 8/10

Soft Eyes is out now via Ripcord Records.

Like BA’AL on Facebook.