ALBUM REVIEW: Melting The Ice In The Hearts Of Men – Our Survival Depends On Us
Sometimes, it isn’t the music that immediately makes you interested in a record; it might be the artwork, the band name or, in the case of this particular release, the album title itself. The gorgeously named Melting The Ice In The Hearts Of Men is the fourth album by Austrian outfit OUR SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON US, their first album in four years and the follow up to the equally well titled Scouts On The Borderline Between The Physical And Spiritual World. It will see the light of day via Ván Records on February 8th.
With four songs coming in at just over forty-five minutes in length, it’s clear that this is an album that will take time and patience to absorb and appreciate. It starts with Galahad, a song that opens steadily with chanting and what sounds like wind-chimes of all things before the guitars roll in and some truly heavenly vocals, contributed by guitarists Mucho and Thom, and bassist Barth. The song continues to build with some truly foreboding keyboard work from Hajot, creating a dark overtone that is present across the whole album, setting a wonderfully melancholic scene that enhances the music. The chugging riffs to end the song are a bit of a shock to the system, but then that’s how the band would like it, forever keeping the listener on their toes.
Lead single Gold And Silver, the shortest song at a mere ten minutes and fourteen seconds, opens with strings and picks up where Galahad left off, developing into big meaty riffs and a wonderfully composed solo. It twists and turns through different tempos to boot, all the while boasting the same vocals that are quickly resembling a choir of angels from on high. It also ends curiously; the vocals suddenly become sharper and cleaner whilst a piano is introduced for the first time and that’s it, another quick finish that once more jolts the system, but also leaves you wondering where they’re going next.
The second half of the album begins with the longest track, Song Of The Lower Classes which clock in at just under thirteen-and-a-half minutes. Another quiet opening kicks things off, this time mimicking the piano of before but incorporating radio feedback and a disembodied, sinister voice describing the plight of those who “make the bread but cannot eat it“. Another big, crunchy riff enters the fray and the song builds layers that prove very satisfying to take on board and explore; in fact, it’s so absorbing that despite its length, the song passes in a flash, ending seemingly as quickly as its begun. Finishing proceedings is Sky Burial, a fully instrumental track that has haunting flutes, screeching guitars and oddly-timed bass notes to disorientate and captivate in equal measure. Like the rest, the song keeps you hanging on tenterhooks, barely changing for a full six minutes before a pounding drum beat comes in and the song builds to its climax, a cacophony of sound that does well to round the album off.
OUR SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON US are certainly a band who have flown under the radar for many, but if you’re inspired by the likes of DREAM THEATER and SWALLOW THE SUN, this will likely be right up your street. It might not make many album of the year lists, admittedly, but it’ll certainly give most of what does end up there a run for its money.
Rating: 7/10
Melting The Ice In The Hearts Of Men is out now via Ván Records.
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