ALBUM REVIEW: Human Intricacy – Earth Moves
We are currently living in a golden age for heavy music and in this creative renaissance for heavy music, you have two camps. The first is to refine and perfect the styles and genres that have come before and if you excel, you instantly establish yourself as a solid outfit. The second, and arguably the more difficult route but one which reaps greater rewards, is to tear up the rulebook and offer a sound that is fresh and one in which cross-pollinates across a plethora of styles and sub-genres. Brighton/London-based quartet EARTH MOVES fall into the latter camp and their sophomore effort, Human Intricacy, is a rich and dynamic record that is full of character.
To categorise EARTH MOVES into a single style is an impossible task. Pulling from elements of black metal, shoegaze, post-metal and post hardcore, Human Intricacy weaves an elaborate and expansive musical tapestry that invokes a wealth of emotions. Falling Away From The Ground, the opening number on the album, offers a snapshot into the expansive nature of the quartet as harmonising and emotional riffs from guitarist Sam Ricketts and bassist Mark Portnoi act as the bedrock to their sound whilst Jordan Hills‘ rasping screams and Gary Marsden‘s drum crash around the mix. It’s a short opening foray but on in which offers an insight into what you expect to find within the record.
Falling Away From The Ground offers an insight into their sound, but Human Intricacy is so far beyond being a one trick pony. This is a record that is as dynamic as it is experimental in nature, consistently offering unexpected left turns and beautifully executed surprises throughout its 40 minute run time. Into The Ether makes use of clever dynamics, both in the musical execution and tempo, demonstrate the band switching from black metal-esque viciousness to moments of stunning quiet tranquillity, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were listening to two different bands. The shining example of this is Catatonic. A behemoth of a track, clocking in just shy of seven and a half minutes, the song represents EARTH MOVES at their very best. Ricketts‘ atmospheric-driven guitar-play offers moments of sombre reflection before evolving into chaotic riffing that combines wonderfully with Marsden‘s blast beat drumming and Hills excels in the vocal department, with his full range of vocal techniques hitting the mark throughout the song’s duration. Moments of musical beauty collide with passages of aural savagery and the result is simply sensational.
There are times though where the band opt for a singular approach, and the results are just as emphatic as to when EARTH MOVES explore the full spectrum of their dynamic sound. Other Voices, Other Rooms‘ goes for the jugular as Jordan Hill‘s relentless screams operate in unison to his bandmates’ ruthless musical chaos before subsiding into a beautifully executed passage of play that flows into the interluding Prayer Sign. On the other side of the spectrum, short instrumental tracks like the aforementioned Prayer Sign or Rot are placed perfectly to break up the explosive musical storm. On these instrumentals, the band dial back the intensity to but a whisper, allowing individual musical elements to shine and they perform brilliantly in capturing your attention before the next bout of action.
Indeed the dynamic and intricate nature of the band’s sound are key to what makes Human Intricacy such a phenomenal listen but it extends far beyond the technical skill in the quarter’s repertoire. Sure, the skill each member of the band present across the record is excellent, with the guitar trickery of Genic being just one example, but the way in which the record ebbs and flows from moments of sheer aural chaos to moments of delicate tranquillity is just outstanding. By making use of incorporating quieter passages of play, it allows the heavier end of the band’s sound to hit all the more harder, making Hills‘ emotive lyrics and Ricketts‘ consistently impressive guitar leads to make a true and lasting connection. It’s a difficult skill to accomplish and throughout Human Intricacy, EARTH MOVES pass with flying colours.
What EARTH MOVES have achieved with Human Intricacy is nothing short of phenomenal. A dynamic, emotive and truly gripping listen, this is a record that glistens with charm and personality. Packed to the brim with moment after moment of jaw-dropping quality, this is a record that will catapult EARTH MOVES into the spotlight. With bands like EMPLOYED TO SERVE, VENOM PRISON or CONJURER demonstrating that UK heavy music is as hungry and vicious as it is utterly excellent, with this new release, EARTH MOVES will surely ascend the ranks to the upper echelons of our scene.
Rating: 9/10
Human Intricacy is out now via Through Love Records & Truthseeker Music.
Like EARTH MOVES on Facebook.
