Album Review: Farer – Monad (Tartarus Records/Aesthetic Death)

Dutch doom/noise trio Farer, featuring members of Ortega, was originally founded as MENHIR in 2013, but chose Farer as their new moniker mid-2019, after spending two and a half years of writing and recording their debut record Monad. By taking time to further explore the possibilities of being a band with two bass players and the absence of a guitar, the record exhibits the bands evolution into a new entity thoroughly.

Describing Monad in their own words:

Traversing the absolute – Monad is a testament to suffering. Heavy grinding riffs and deep pulsating rhythms; a restless stirring. Amidst all these layers we hear the human voice as a primal wordless scream – the shock of being. We feel the dissonance of forces vying for existence and the harmony of lightless oblivion. Whispers of unfathomable truths emerge from the static.

Monad is out on the 20th of November with Tartarus Records releasing the tape version and Aesthetic Death releasing the CD version.

Two bass players, no guitars…if that doesn’t set your teeth on edge, nothing will. It immediately gives Farer a unique and compelling edge. Who doesn’t want to hear what these doom/noise-mongers have to offer?

So, what are they offering? Four spell-binding tracks that have the innate ability to shock and amaze in equal measures.

How on earth can you describe the utter insanity that is Phanes to someone? The constantly jarring first couple of minutes with the high-pitched wails and screams? The lack of discernible rhythm and the choppy drumbeat? The howls of grief that make up most of the vocals? The long lull of ear-splitting feedback in the middle? It is utter madness, but it is absolutely brilliant. It’s a track that keeps things so finely balanced, never becoming nonsense but never fully making sense either. The right word to describe it might be…captivating.

That’s just the first track…

Asulon comes next and builds up nicely with a deep rumbling storm and the twang of a bass that begins to increase in frequency and intensity. After a lengthy period, clean vocals arrive to give it a sermon-like feel before the feedback becomes more penetrating and the shrieks of misery begin. You can feel Farer are about to erupt and the tension is palatable, but they keep their composure for far longer than you might expect. It’s such a bewildering listen but once again, proves to be mesmerising.

Continuing to push the boundaries, Moros brings the weight of Farer’s echoing doomy side down upon the skull. However, this is also where they showcase a truly enthralling kind of sorrowful rhythm. It’s almost post-like in how it is approached and pushed out to our ears. Yet, it begins to break down and become more and more horror-based which leads to Farer unleashing the hellishness of their noise for all to run and hide from.

For many, it might to be too much but for those looking for something that can proudly be called unique, Farer deliver on every front. So much so, that it’s regrettable that it’s only 4 tracks long. Even if each one is an epic.

With the thickest sounding bass and most teeth-aching feedback so far, Elpis is one that doesn’t take its time. Instead, exploding with doom-laden life from the very start and being unrelenting up until the very end. As it drifts away, it’s hard not to catch yourself mouth agape.

Monad is a special release. One that deserves your time and energy. You’ll need both but you’ll be glad you gave it.

Farer – Monad Full Track Listing:

1. Phanes
2. Asulon
3. Moros
4. Elpis

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