Album Review: TRNA – Istok (Candlelight)

TRNA want to take you on a journey. Not to their Russian homeland, but beyond that, to a place not on any map where the trio’s dreamy “celestial blackgaze” can properly get beneath your skin and into your mind. With their fourth album, Istok, their first for Candlelight Records, they’re pushing even further into the unknown.

The band explains:

What is Istok? Istok is the place where all begins, where you go when you feel that you can’t bear your everyday life. It’s the great nothingness where you find peace. It’s the salvation and relief. But to get there is a whole journey and it’s different for everyone.

Istok will be released on September 3rd, 2021 via Candelight.

There’s no better modern example of what the soundtrack to the feeling of floating through dreamy and spiritual spaces would be like. TRNA’s Istok is undoubtably a ‘shoegaze/blackgaze’ album and with that comes heavy expectations. After all, the likes of Deafheaven and more recently, MØL have dominated this scene. It’s not unfair to put TRNA up against those bands, especially as this is their fourth album.

Should TRNA be spoken about in the same way as the masters of ‘gaze’?

The title track erupts with a methodical and powerful dose of otherworldly heaviness before descending into more melodic territories. Briefly calming, the expulsion that follows is akin to be being fired out of a rocket, hurtling towards the deep and dark unknown.

Tearfully lost, Echoes of the Past is barrage of blackgaze with some of the album’s most reflective and emotive melodies. However, all of this seems like groundwork being laid. The build to Shining which features the talents of melodic black metal band, Gaerea. A near 13-minute epic that doesn’t just encapsulate everything great about TRNA but encapsulates everything great about this style of metal.

The vocals add a ton of desperate sounding levity to TRNA’s cosmic spiritualism, but instrumentally the band have crafted a stunning piece of music. A 10/10 track, no question.

How do you follow that?

Burning Bridges, Shattered Dreams is another vast effort that has the feeling of dropping into a vacuum. Before Hearts Turn to Stone sucks the life out with a blistering showcase of guitars and drums – melody lost in a whirlwind of belligerent vehemence.

TRNA’s stunning work isn’t quite done though as Rebirth sends sparks and colours bursting through the mind. There is no end to something that is endless, just a loop which is exactly what this album is as you find yourself hitting play over and over again. Although not before listening to the instrumental version of Shining to wrap things up in gorgeous fashion.

TRNA – Istok Full Track Listing:

1. Istok
2. Echoes of The Past
3. Shining (ft. Gaerea)
4. Burning Bridges, Shattered Dreams
5. Hearts Turn to Stone
6. Rebirth
7. Shining (Instrumental)

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Candlelight