doubt few would argue than Neurosis and Isis are the cream of the crop or even the genre’s inventors when in comes to the post –rock/hardcore, ambient sludge drone stuff, heck the genre is pretty much called “NeurIsis-core” by most media outlets including myself. However, there’s a teeming second tier of acts vying for your money and ear, many of them pretty good, but which such similar sounds, who out of Mouth of the Architect, Cult of Luna, Back When, Overmars, Callisto, Rosetta, Rwake, Minsk, Burst, Year of No Light, Transmission0 and the countless others will step up? (my money is actually on Mouth of the Architect…)

Well, Holland’s Transmission0 certainly made a bold statement with their debut 0, and have followed it up with an equally solid second album of cascading mountainous riffs, pained bellows and hypnotic segues that should tide you over until Neurosis’ Given to The Rising surfaces.

I shouldn’t have to describe the style that Transmission0 ply, as what you really want to know is how the album delivers the said style. In a nut shell? Very well. Not as commercial as Cult of Luna, not as nasty as Rwake, not as completely Neurosis sounding as Minsk, not as dreamy as Rosetta, not as experimental as Burst, not as heavy as Overmars, but an influence sucking mix of all, Transmission0’s effort is a satisfyingly heavy yet eloquent example of the genre done right.

Richly produced, expansive full tracks like “Condor”, standout “Paracas”, “Fragments”, “Dance Machines” (featuring Steve Austin) and the immense build and peak closer “Token” shimmer and lope with equal parts hypnotic sway and prose and tense, heavy riffs that crumble and clatter with the menace of an oncoming storm. Then there’s plenty of peaceful, introspection as delivered by “Dreams” part I and II as well a haunting instrumental track “UnREM” to carry you off to show gazer heaven.

Transmission0 aren’t really bringing anything new to the genre with Memory of a Dream, but as like their peers, they are adding a quality component to a genre full of quality already, and that’s no easy feat.

[Visit the band's website]

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