EP REVIEW: Summer Wars – Lesotho

Idowu Koyenikan said that “There is no denying that there is evil in this world but the light will always conquer the darkness.” The fact that LESOTHO formed and created their upcoming EP while a pandemic ravaged the planet is testament to these words, and sums up their whole approach. Created as a result of a mutual love for instrumental heavy music, the band quickly established their raison d’être; to dazzle us the listener with cathartic and challenging music. The result is Summer Wars, a four track entity that shimmers and gasps, leading us through diverse and emotive passages.

Where a lot of post-rock falls down is in a lack of direction. It can often be very formulaic and numb, mimicking bands gone by resulting in stale, monotonous records. With the right consideration however, the exact opposite can be true. LESOTHO lead through a desire to make us feel, and from the very off they succeed in doing so. Plusone/Timestwo carefully builds from a moody intro and quickly becomes a post metal barrage. Heavy drums batter, and then thud with a serene delicacy as the track drops back into idyllic soundscape.

Every note feels perfectly placed, conjuring thoughts of CASPIAN and bands of a similar ilk. The instrumentation is patient and accurate, yet never feels too slow. As Altar Fire continues to show, this pacing is matched by wonderful diversity, as the track rises and falls like the crest of a wave, frantic at times, cathartic at others. Pride & Sorrow offers a similar experience, dancing close to blackgaze territory at times before shifting into further post-rock bliss. To See With Eyes Unclouded completes the set; another dizzying expanse of poignant instrumental rock.

We can draw our own conclusions as to what this music means. LESOTHO have given us a canvas on which we can paint our own emotions. It’s thought provoking, and holds our attention right until the last note. The biggest asset any record can possess is an ability to connect with it’s audience, and Summer Wars cuts right through to the soul. The true test will be how LESOTHO fair when they try and write a longer record – can they produce the same intensity across a longer piste – but with this EP, they have announced their arrival in emphatic style.

Rating: 8/10

Summer Wars is out now via self-release.

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