I’ve been in a heady mood lately so it was almost serendipitous that we were handed a new single from progressive sludgers Radiant Knife to premiere. We’ve been fans of theirs for a bit now so it just felt right to jump on this for that reason alone. It’s fair to say I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest and I don’t think you will be either.
See, the duo from Louisiana have a new album coming out on November 13 independently. It’s called Sankalpa and it looks to build upon the sounds established from their work so far, but in a more cerebral fashion. The song and video we’re premiering today called “Disciple of the Astral Plane” is a prime example of that. Let’s peep it.
It’s kind of fascinating how this video and, to an extent, the track could fit into some ’90s mentalities and feel right at home. Don’t get me wrong though – “Disciple of the Astral Plane” is keenly forward-thinking. It’s an endearing balance of dense sludge and progressive exploration that pairs well with the theme of the song, explained by the band thusly: ‘”Disciple Of The Astral Plane” explores the roots of human consciousness, and our connection to each other and the not so apparent universe. Driving transcendental riffs, floating vocals and subtle synth overlays eventually culminate into anthemic dueling guitars guiding you off the edge of the astral plane.‘
This is some of the most ethereal stuff I’ve heard from Radiant Knife so far, and fittingly so. Comfortably breaking the five-minute mark, it constructs serene melodies, bold leads, and uses awesome vocals to speak to the soul. I love the soaring solo near the end too, more subtle than you might expect, but still a standout. The video, thankfully, doesn’t seem to have a lick of AI in it which is great for a song about exploring the deepest depths of the human mind and our innate connection to each other and the space around us, maybe even some realms beyond if the right glands are decalcified right. Even if you’re like me and only popping Zyrtec daily, it’s still an enjoyable trip and indicative of what Radiant Knife are doing to their art on this upcoming album.
Frankly, I’m hype. I did enjoy the title track that was released prior to this new song, betting on instrumentation over everything else, but this seems like a powerful leap forward. Again, Sankalpa comes out November 13 independently, as most good art does, and it’s available for preorder on Bandcamp. You can follow Radiant Knife on Facebook and Instagram. Enjoy!
