Album Review: Gaerea – Coma (Season of Mist)

The enigmatic Portuguese blackened extreme metal band, Gaerea will release their much-anticipated new album, ‘Coma’ on October 25th, 2024, via Season of Mist.

Remember this moment because it’s the moment that sees Gaerea step out of the shadows and prove to the world that they are a force like no other. Challenging all notions around extreme metal with a gleefulness that could be mistaken as wickedness. While this might not seem out of the ordinary for long-term listeners, Gaerea continue to baffle and delight new ones equally. Yet, even for those who have been with this band since the start, Coma offers up a fresh experience that explores new and exciting locales.

It is an absolutely stunning record, proving to be as gorgeous as it is horrifying, and as challenging as extreme metal gets without slipping too far into avant-garde soundscapes. All of this, and so much more, is showcased with mighty aplomb on the thrilling opening track, The Poet’s Ballet. It speaks volumes about Gaerea and their imagination here, that they felt confident to begin the record with such a track. Where, for nearly three minutes, dark melody rings out and the vocals are subtly soft and smooth, then it explodes into blackened life. The switch isn’t startling as Gaerea ease the listener in, but it is imposing.

It is just the start of an album that has the power to change the metal landscape, and blackened step by blackened step, Gaerea are leading. Delivering a bevy of astounding sonic affairs that constantly prove to be provocative, dynamic, and genre-defying. Tracks like Hope Shatters, Suspended, and World Ablaze are some of the finest extreme sounds heard this year, but it’s how fresh and modern everything sounds that really matters the most. A sheen of blackness, fiery explosivity, soothing melodies, and a brave showcase of varied vocals. When you throw in the absolute savage that is the title track, the first half of the album is near unbeatable.

Continuing to combine epic melody and blackened heaviness to perfection, while adding in lighter moments to enhance the cacophony of savagery that Gaerea are so renowned for. It’s a constant fast-flowing torrent with numerous peaks and valleys, resulting in some of the grandest, and most challenging, Gaerea tracks to date. Wilted Flower, Reborn, and Shapeshifter. Each is proudly necessary listening and the amount of detail that can be found within, is astonishing.

Do you know what you really don’t expect from extreme metal? Catchiness, but you’ll find it here. It’s just another impressive aspect of this band and what they have crafted with Coma. It’s so sad to see it come to an end, even though it’s around 50-minutes long overall! End it must though and with Unknown, Gaerea change the tone, again.

A track that finds Gaerea at their most melodious and their most intense, once again crafting something that is wholly them, but also has all the brutal hallmarks of recognisable genres. All the pieces might be unoriginal, but how Gaerea put them together is something else. Which leads to the finale of Kingdom of Thorns and an album closer that puts to bed any notion that Gaerea aren’t changing the landscape of extreme metal. All the proof you need is here.

Gaerea – Coma Track Listing:

1. The Poet’s Ballet
2. Hope Shatters
3. Suspended
4. World Ablaze
5. Coma
6. Wilted Flower
7. Reborn
8. Shapeshifter
9. Unknown
10. Kingdom of Thorns

Links

Bandcamp | Website | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok