Album Review: Lesotho – “Through the Dying Light” (Instrumental Post-Metal)

Written by Valkyrjiaa

In the dark and dreary age of 2020’s quarantine, Lesotho came into being. Forging the mastery of guitarist Kyle Loffredo, bassist Cliff Cazeau, and drummer Zach Ganshirt, Lesotho merge the inspirations of metal, atmospheric growth, and mystery to bring something fresh yet foreboding to the table.

2021 saw their debut EP Summer Wars hit the scene, and it quickly rose through the ranks of the up-and-coming amongst the New England metal scene. Now, Lesotho embark on their maiden voyage with their first full length titled Through the Dying Light that features ten jaw-dropping tracks with guest appearances by Phil Todisco on “Flicker” and Molly Grace Chandler on “Floater”.

We are greeted by “The Difficulty of Crossing a Field”, one of the album’s shorter tracks but one of its most alluring. I favour the ability of instrumental music to precisely convey emotional depth, and this track does just that. It’s our formal introduction to Lesotho’s sound and atmosphere, one that is presented to us with fragmented bits of hope through panes of dreariness, sorrow, and unbridled rage. The layering of heavy bass combined with enthralling riffs and battering drums rise ever skyward to give us the hand stretched upward, waiting for the storms to clear but drowning in the constant downpour.

“Crown of Echoes” follows seamlessly with the same deep, dreary bass strumming our doom. Chords of agony tug at fragile heart strings as we contemplate past and present, the choices uncast by our hand. It’s gentle, almost peaceful in its sorrow as the small symphony rises and falls like deep breaths. However, the mystery remains; buried deep beneath cold ground until the guitars shatter through, digging in with unbound hands on a relentless hunt for answers. It cancels out the peace and memory to bring fear and desperation to the forefront with a humming melody that picks at your brain. It’s uncertain yet unshaken as it builds layer after layer of complex tune and soundscape. We wander rows of unmarked graves as the melody soars on, burdening us with less control and more questions. I love how divinely complicated this track is without diluting the anxiety it creates. It doesn’t need major switches and drops to build its storyline, and with that I am spellbound.

“Truth” is the ethereal glade. It’s the wandering hands that stream through golden fields of wheat before arriving to clear waters. The deep breath before the dive, and the cold water that washes the worry from your mind. It’s mystical and oh-so-clear in its beauty. The innocent smile on gently plucked strings, the light waves hitting the shores of the bass as we come to clarity. It’s the uplifting moment of freedom and release but, the memories still haunt us. As the pace quickens and the drums remind us of our tainted past, the waters turn blood red and we drag ourselves through the depths of resolve in hopes of finding peace once more. It’s an excellent piece of composition that gives such a clear and precise image of anxiety, clarity, and the false moves that can flip our world upside down.

“Flicker” sees the guesting lap steel of Phil Todisco join in. This adds greater guitar strength and presence, demanding attention through eerie melody and quick plucked chords for a menacing vibe. It’s the dim flame against damp dark; each moment of warm glow is to be held closely as any wrong turn may bring a collapsing wind to snuff out its embers. Distortion returns but takes a lighter strike to allow us to fully embrace the guitar work on this track which come in velvety smooth and totally addictive. They create a maddening atmosphere, with brief breaks only anchoring our anticipation for what’s next. It’s a song truly worthy of the attention it seeks, and one I replayed for full delight.

Molly Grace Chandler adds her vocals to “Floater” to amplify the other-worldly presence that this track emits. It takes the dream-state and pushes it forward, offering a warm hand to a tender cheek, and the scent of wildflowers to overtake our senses beneath a radiant moon. Yet, there’s a level of illusion to this track, with a streaming bass line that comes off as suspicious. Molly’s gentle voice carries on like the reciting of prophecy, “one wolf watches with unselfconscious goddess eyes” is cryptic and mysterious, yet the tone is still soft and innocent. Her vocals so divinely deliver verses; a speech that creates perfect visuals that we are unable to ignore. As such, her vocals are so clearly presented, unmasked by overwhelming sound that we can fully embrace those images and let ourselves be carried away by our own interpretation of what we envision.

“Running Down the Sides” sees heaviness take hold like a skeletal hand around our neck. It brings the metal vibes back into play with snarling jaws, razor claws, and furrowed brow to let us know the mood. It’s passion and defensiveness, an unrivaled will to take on the challenges that await but, it’s not only hardship before us. There is a moment of balance and tranquility, to run or make ruin, to choose the rightful path instead of letting hate and anger overflow. It’s simply melodic, and so beautifully crafted to deliver the shifts in emotion through rugged guitars and weighty drums that lighten as our minds clear.

Closing out is Lesotho’s longest track on Through the Dying Light: “Dead Calm”. Running near to ten minutes, this track takes us on a voyage through bloodshed and rot, fear and uncertainty, peace and resolution. The ever-quivering drums that rise to feed our fear are met by spastic, untamed guitars and the bass line runs through, calm yet strange in its presence. It takes so long to build up the tension that even I began to feel fear settling in. The uncertainty is maddening, and it begins to feed chaos rising from within. When the insanity breaks, we find the harmonious choir of riffs once more awaiting our arrival. A breath of calm washes over and we take the moment of rest gifted upon us. We know it never lingers, as the dread creeps up once more, and we have no choice but to press on, lest we let our worst become our rebirth. In the end do we meet clarity or demise? Distortion clouds sound and judgment, and we are left to others to decide. Our strings of fate severed but, will we see ascension or remain to meet our doom?

THE BOTTOM LINE

Each track on Through the Dying Light is meticulously crafted to flow seamlessly with the others yet remain as their own. The vividness of the instrumentals paired with spawning soundscape and perfect melody create mesmerizing journeys through emotional risks and memory. Lesotho’s craftsmanship in building atmosphere and tension and lifelike landscapes through their music is astonishing. I’m a sucker for instrumentals, but this album brings otherworldliness, emotion, and nostalgia all together to build a realm beyond anything I’d ever imagined before. An absolute must listen that cannot be passed up if you love to indulge in the wildness your imagination can create.