Very few post-metals acts really march to the beat of their own drum, but when an album is approved by Mr. Melvin himself, Buzz Osborne, you may be onto something special and unique. Such is the case for the latest record from Phoenix-based With Our Arms To The Sun. Orenda‘s surreal cover doesn’t exactly match the crushing yet ethereal music perfectly, but the artwork’s emphasis on earth and space is instructive and hints at the duality contained within. The record itself actually gets off on its worst foot, delving into more typical sludgier paths that Orenda pleasantly dodges later on. Josh Breckenridge’s harsh vocals are a clear low-light in the first two songs, which is unfortunate, as his voice is a huge asset throughout the album’s remaining run-time.
What you end up with is a record that is a wonderfully cinematic and visual experience. Orenda’s sound can recall a host of other acts at times, like Junius, Isis (the band), the proggier side of Mastodon, and Pink Floyd, but there’s a rather kinetic potential energy that moves even the record’s most serene moments. Osborne’s engineering certainly aides the listening experience; there’s a clarity that grounds the spacier elements, but this isn’t exactly a “clean” sounding record. There’s grime in amidst even the most majestic moments, like “Doorway to Realization”. Ultimately, Orenda is the sound of a band capitalizing on its potential and passion to craft a vivid and captivating post-metal release that’s markedly different from the style’s norms. It feels like the band are in mid-transformation, though, as the heavier bits detract from the grander musical expeditions rather than adding weight. You get the sense that With Our Arms To The Sun’s next release will truly be special, but Orenda is quite impressive already.
