I got to know Zatokrev in 2012 when they released their third album: The Bat, The Wheel and a Long Road to Nowhere. I have to admit, that album was a bit long, but the sludge/post-metal of the Basel, Switserland based gentlemen was well received. The different influences of bands such as Cult of Luna, Neurosis and Minsk are easy to spot, but at the same time the band sounds different with an extremer, more raw ‘hardcore’ character. The album Silk Spiders Underwater, which was released three years later, was a clear step forward, both in terms of production and overall sound and songwriting. It was a musically exciting record on which the band seemed to have truly found its own sound within the subgenre.
After another split (which I completely missed) with genre mates Minsk in 2018, things went quiet around the band, but after seven years of hibernation, they are finally back with a brand new album titled Bring Mirrors to the Surface. And I can tell you that it has been more than worth the wait! That doesn’t mean I was immediately blown away after a single listen, though. This clearly is an album that needs to grow on you. My first impression wasn’t immediately positive; I had to get used to the somewhat less raw sound, and in terms of song structure, I found it a bit long-winded and this leads to an hour of music that feels like forever. But I caught myself not taking (or having) enough space (for whatever reason) to really sit down and listen to it properly, so I put the album aside until my head was clear enough to take it all in. And damnit, it worked!
I must say, the band goes in all sorts of directions. From pounding post-metal meets Ufomammut-doom and Wayfarer-steel guitars during the opener Red Storm to Mastodon-meets-Botch-like sludge/hardcore riffs in Faint and long, drawn-out post-doom during the fantastic Unwinding Spirits (featuring Manuel Gagneux from Zeal & Ardor). And everything in between: Zatokrev does what it feels like doing and what it’s good at. The second track Blood is also noteworthy. It starts with hard Neurosis/Isis-style chords and sludge riffs, alternates with atmospheric vocals à la Khoma (who remembers them?) and halfway through turns into a calmly rippling, yet masterfully building interlude with piano and vocals (by Ines Brodbeck from INEZONA) that could have been on a Kauan record. It’s a shame that the song doesn’t build to a climax again after this, but because it adds to the unpredictability, I can live with it.
Now, this euphoric story seems to be heading for a maximum score, but I do have a few unavoidable comments. The fact that I am sprinkling all kinds of comparisons above is one of them, of course, although the band as a whole definitely has its own character. Furthermore, the drum sound, especially the snare, could have been a bit sharper and more organic, and the overall production a bit more intense. This would have made the hard hits even more impressive. In addition, the overload of ideas is sometimes a bit overwhelming and, in my personal opinion, the gentlemen could have given the album a bit more direction. But I’m really talking about details here. Bring Mirrors to the Surface has become an intriguing ‘comeback’ album. You need to take the time and space to listen to it, but those are often the releases that ultimately stick with you.
Score:
84/100
Label:
Pelagic Records, 2025
Tracklisting:
- Red Storm
- Blood
- The Only Voice
- Unwinding Spirits
- Faint
- Changes
- Pearl Eyes
- Deep Dark Turns Green
Line-up:
- Frederyk Rotter – Vocals, guitar
- Lucas Löw – Bass
- Steffen Kunkel – Guitar
- David Burger – Drums
Links: