Krane – Pleonexia (2017)

Unleashing a very interesting sophomore release, today we have Switzerland’s Krane with “Pleonexia”. Crafting a very unique sound that blends Post-Metal with Post-Rock passages, this band sounds like the perfect child of Neurosis and From Nebula with some influences of Cult of Lune and Russian Circles sprinkled in. With over 35 minutes of music, this is one of those mostly instrumental releases that keep you wanting to play it over and over again.

Setting the mood with the mysterious “Deception”, the band slowly lures the listener into their world as “Strategic Level” kicks in with intense percussions. In this track the band comes out of its shell and delivers a somewhat ritualistic build-up into Neurosis-esque heavy riffs. With a certain futuristic edge provided by either a Theremin or some funky electronic synths. Delivering a bit of a shift in pace, “Destabilization” sooths out the listener before the next onslaught.

Keeping the tension quite high, “Operational Level” continues to expand on the band’s crafty sound by delivering intricate drum patterns while building a very tense and intriguing atmospheric backdrop. This is by far our favorite track in this release as it features great progression and solid conversational-samples from movies and/or interviews. Clocking in at 12 minutes, this song showcases the band’s ability to deliver in longer songs without getting dull or repetitive.

Just before the end of the release, “Tactical Level” is full of vocal samples and killer guitar work. We particularly enjoy the amazing production behind this release and how crystal clear are all elements showcased. The band could be a bit heavier as on “Combat”, were they really crush it with powerful riffs and a suspenseful tempo.

Overall, “Pleonexia” is a very solid release that showcases the abilities of this Swiss outfit. If you like Post-Metal and could do without the vocals, Krane has some music you will want to hear.

Label: Czar of Crickets Productions

Release: October 27th, 2017

Genre: Post-Metal/Rock

Country: Switzerland