Portuguese masked band GAEREA’s upcoming album, Loss, marks a shift from their earlier work. Their first album to be released through new label Century Media Records, Loss, focuses on personal experiences while maintaining their signature heavy-hitting sound.
Speaking to V13’s Graham Finney, the group’s frontman, known only as Alpha, said that the album was inspired by his personal experiences.
“I learned that, when you write songs to express something buried within yourself, it doesn’t mean everything goes away and is resolved just because you wrote about it. It’s a journey. Some things you will always feel,” Alpha said. “Writing is a coping mechanism, something you do for yourself to help you deal with it and view things from a different perspective.”
Even though I am not a diehard metal enthusiast, I found the album intriguing and moving. The contrast between the melodic aspects and soulful vocals with trademark heavy metal screams and loud instrumentals was executed well and I enjoyed it, with certain tracks standing out.
Loss opens strong with “Luminary,” which features heavy synths and combines a melodic guitar with the band’s established black metal sound. It is an opening that gives a clear glimpse of what is to come throughout the rest of the album.
The closing track “Stardust” is my favourite song on Loss. At nearly eight minutes, the longest on the album, the song perfectly captures the balance of the album between soft and hard. The haunting, melodic vocals tell the story of someone longing for a loved one and feeling an emptiness without them. Then, partway through the song, the beat drops and the screams and heavy instrumentals return, the rest of the song feeling like an angry cry for the lost loved one. It is a perfect way to close out the album.
Other standout tracks include “Submerged,” which opens with delicate piano keys and whispers before unleashing into loud guitar riffs and powerful drums with powerful, raspy scream vocals, and the softer “LBRNTH,” which feels like a walk through a labyrinth with slow, patterned drums and an ethereal female vocal. As one of the few songs that remains relatively soft, it leaves a lasting impression.
For those who love hard-hitting metal and emotional storytelling in music, there is plenty to be found on GAEREA’s Loss. It is well worth a listen.
GAEREA’s fifth full-length album, Loss, will be released on March 20. For more information, visit gaerea.com or follow the band on Instagram @gaerea_.
