ALBUM REVIEW: Loss – Pijn

Of all the labels that release heavy music in the UK, Holy Roar Records have had a blinder of a year. The likes of CONJURER, MØL and ROLO TOMASSI have all released stellar albums to critical acclaim, the tip of a very large and rather proud iceberg that also boasts EMPLOYED TO SERVE and TOUCHÉ AMORÉ on its impressive CV. Today, it’s the turn of PIJN to help cement Holy Roar’s dominance of 2018 with Loss, their debut album and follow up to last year’s superb Floodlit.

Like a lot of albums to come from the label, Loss tells a story, taking in some of the stages of grief – denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance – as it goes. At just over 66 minutes it’s a long record, but the complexity and detail that come with this are so numerous that it warrants the time and patience to thoroughly explore it. Beautifully, every song compliments its title perfectly, which is even more impressive when you consider that PIJN are largely instrumental.

Take opening track Denial, for example. The big, sludgy riff that ends up repeating and dropping in tone is representative of the downward spiral one feels when they first encounter a substantial loss, with a lighter passage sandwiched in the very middle indicating that hopefulness felt when the denial stage of grief is in full effect. Follow up track Detach is one of the few to contain vocals, but the haunting, near ritualistic chant of “And just like that, the future detached. Is this happening?” is so potent and strong it sets the wheels of the roller-coaster in motion once more, another layer added to an incredible album.

Distress is as it sounds, more chaotic and frantic, going through stages that slow down and building before a pounding drum conclusion. Blanch, on the other hand, is softer, taking away some of the ferocity and incorporating strings to a more expansive, post-rock sound. The eighteen-minute long Unspoken is a true epic with looping effects, ambient sections and strangled, screaming vocals combining to produce a wonderful, if challenging, listen before the one-two of Squalor and Squander take things to a hectic and masterful climax of keys, drums and crushing hooks.

How Holy Roar keep hitting the jackpot with their roster is anyone’s guess, but in PIJN they have yet another golden band that will be heralded as groundbreaking and legendary for years to come. Loss is a sprawling, immense piece of work that will lodge solidly into end of year lists, and it’s only the beginning for a band with a huge amount to offer.

Rating: 9/10

Loss is out now via Holy Roar Records. 

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