The dynamics of power have never been as demarcated as nowadays, mostly thanks to the internet and its ability to broaden the scope of seeing current events unfold in real time. This gives a pretty striking look at perspectives of both being in power and being subjected to it – their commonalities ultimately falling down under the idea of sacrifice. A sacrifice for a supposed greater good, for the security of a nation, a sacrifice to make ends meet or to assure that loved ones are taken care of; it’s clear that this idea of sacrificing take many forms depending on what side you fall under. Scottish post metal newcomers Codespeaker precisely challenge this particular view of life through their latest single “Verte”, a miasmic take on post metal that is executed with brutality, but also with much thought and conviction, and we at Everything Is Noise could not be any more prouder to premiere it.
The band comments on the concept behind the single:
‘”Verte” looks at our notions of sacrifice. The difference in expectations of the powerless and the powerful. The justifications we give for valuing one human life over another. “Verte” was written at a time when people were being asked to make incredible sacrifices and the nature of these double standards was shown in stark light. It is an attempt to stand in the shoes of those who are deemed acceptable collateral damage.‘
Codespeaker convey the skepticism and increasing anger at this apparent inconsistency through gargantuan instrumentation that ebbs and flows with a surprising smoothness given its size and sheer fury. Even with a menacing blend of sludge-laced riffage, rich bass lines, scorching vocals, and animated drumming with a flair for blast beats, “Verte” is thorough in its execution and expansive in its approach to songwriting. The way the chord progressions are placed and the manner in how they craft their melodies with such depth and atmosphere elevate the track to a higher plane of impact. Undoubtedly, this is post metal at its sonic peak, only amplified by a compelling outlook of our current state of sociopolitical affairs.
“Verte” is taken off Codespeaker‘s upcoming sophomore record Scavenger, scheduled to see the light of day on November 8th via Ripcord Records. Representing a new chapter for the band with three new members, Scavenger is ‘an ode to the powerless, a fitting theme for these times’ and is ‘reminiscent of titanic bands like Neurosis and Cult of Luna‘. If this sounds just about right for you, then you can digitally pre-order the album and follow their Facebook and Instagram pages for any future updates.
