Summit – The Winds that Forestall Thy Return (2016)

Featuring a very complex and yet imposing sound, today we have Italy’s Summit and their debut full-length release ”The Winds that Forestall Thy Return”. Divided in 5 songs that last around 32 minutes total, the band does a pretty interesting job in combining Progressive Metal influences into a thick wall of Post-Metal elements. With a certain improvisational vibe, this release will surely grab your attention and will always keep you guessing what is coming up next.

The album commences with the sinister riffs of “Hymn Of The Forlon Wayfarer”, this 10-minute track slowly builds up as the intensity grows. This song reminded us of early Dysrhythmia stuff, but a bit less convoluted and more approachable. With the intensity in full swing, tracks like “Pale Moonlight Shadow” do a great job in keeping the momentum going and deliver very intricate passages with cool tempo changes, contrasted by whispers and screams in the background.

The meat and potatoes of this album is the two parter rollercoaster ride that is the album title track. The first part is more of an ambient piece which sets a very mysterious mood that is perfect for the transition to the more active and wild second part. Once things kick off, there are tons of cool little Proggy/experimental elements which make this track quite interesting and engaging. Easing out of the total sense of chaos, the last few minutes perfectly clam down the listener and deliver more atmospheric magic.

Closing with the mysterious “Aeons Pass, Memories Don’t Fade”, we come full circle on a very intricate and engaging release. This one man outfit showcases Gabriele Gramaglia many musical talents and a great capability of writing music that draws your attention and never lets go. If you like a mixture of bands like The Ocean, Neurosis, etc. with more atmospheric/ambient elements and some Proggy experimentation thrown into the mix, this is one release that will surely haunt you.

Label: I, Voidhanger Records

Release: July 15th, 2016

Genre: Progressive/Post-Metal

Country: Italy