Hailing from France, Hypnos is a doomy post rock act that instantly reminds of the likes of Morne and Mindrot, that’s to say they are fucking excellent, and their self released debut album, The Fall is an artfully crafted, elegant and powerful album that any Post Rock fans should check out as well as fans of doom metal.

While certainly having the obvious Neurosis back bone, the gruffer roars and heftier tone cement the Mindrot/Morne comparison, as well as the draining emotive lumbering riffs that truly recall the likes of Soul and Dawning. Just go to the last minute of opener “Burden” (even the song titles have a Mindrot ring), and tell me that could not have been culled from those two classic releases. The same goes for the opening strains of second standout track “Arrow”, which delivers a knee wilting doom pace and rending melancholic atmosphere. The balance is perfectly struck on every track between, heaving, heavy loping riffs and more somber hues and post rock/shoe gaze sprinkling, but this sounds to me much more a doom record. The steady, somber rumbling of all 6 lengthy tracks is delivered with a very nice, deep guitar tone, so there’s no shortage of crumbling heft, even with the morose gloss.

Some strings/synths and delicate moments occasionally layer the sound with even more elegance and atmosphere, but it never drags or overstays its welcome, usually quickly seguing into some really impressive heavier moments such as the lumbering “Phantasm” or “(H)Elle- The Fall”. Closer “The Beast”, is a monolithic 10 minute end note that’s the albums second standout, and is a menacing as it is emotive, laced with heaving riffs and acoustic foreboding and restrained vocals that recall Steve Von Till’s, haunting bellows.

Like last year’s last minute surprise from German act Desert Beneath the Pavement,  Hypnos as well as the debut from Norway’s  From Beneath Billows have delivered stunning European example of post rock that will flirt with my year end list. Do you self a favor and either go and pay what you like for a digital release at the bands bandcamp page or pick up a copy if the CD. You will thank me.

[Visit the band's website]

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