Throughout the past seven or so years that I’ve written for this site, the amount of musical discoveries I’ve made either through premieres, reviews, or recommendations from the other writers, has been rather insane. It’s one of the best parts of the gig as well, since finding new things to listen to usually isn’t the easiest of tasks, so having people who know you, show you things and suggest shit here and there, can have a significant effect on your palette. I tend to sign up for premieres with random motives; maybe I liked the artwork, or the band name, or the genre descriptor, previously released material, got directly asked to cover it, and so on. The list of reasons is endless, but it ultimately always serves the one goal of providing a platform for something that deserves to be heard. Six years ago I wrote about a band whose name struck me funny, and to whose material I then fell absolutely in love with, and have kept in a somewhat steady rotation since. It was only some time ago when I realized the band hasn’t released anything for a while and wondered what’s up with that, and then our weekly premiere list went out. I’m not sure if I’ve ever pulled the trigger on anything as fast.
Threestepstotheocean, the Milan-based experimental post-rock/metal quartet are releasing their new album Death of Permanence on October 16 via Subsound Records. It’s indeed been six years since the Italians’ last outing Del Fuoco (which I reviewed here and wrote a premiere for over here), and I believe I’m not alone in saying that it’s about damn time for the group to return. Today, we are happy to present to you a new single off of the said record, bearing the name “Black Syrup” and featuring the Italian electronic avant-pop artist Dalila Kayros on vocals. So hit play from below, and be prepared for something quite devastating coming your way imminently;
While I’ve always adored all post-something leanings, Threestepstotheocean just hits differently. There is something in their sound and sonic appearance that feels like a home to me, albeit I can’t really put my finger on what it is exactly. In addition to the intangible, “Black Syrup” is filled to the brim with hooks and unexpected turns, each and every last one of them composed through and well-thought out, and especially bringing Kayros on board for this track truly pushes Threestepstotheocean‘s sound to novel territories. As per the PR grapevine, Death of Permanence features numerous significant collaborators, and I’m rather eager to hear the end result in full.
The band themselves said the following about the song;
‘With “Black Syrup”, we wanted to explore darker, more cross-pollinated territories. We blended a dark-folk and ritual inspiration with trip-hop beats and Middle Eastern electronica, creating a dense, hybrid sonic substance that escapes a single definition. Collaborating with Dalila Kayros was essential in giving this track its voice. Her vocal lines manage to be sinuous and hypnotic, yet terrifyingly aggressive, perfectly matching the dark, ritualistic mood of the song.‘
I have the utmost admiration towards artists that take the leap and push themselves not only forward, but to tangential streams as well. It’s not surprising that Threestepstotheocean engages in this, based on their past doings already, but to execute such moves in such manner as here, deserves its own applause. Dynamics, massive walls of sound built on a plethora of details, open and expanding ambiance, the terrifically epic vocal delivery, what is not to love here, honestly? I would have quite a bit of additional points to make, but also have to keep in mind the nature of these premiere articles. That said, I will be digging further into the band and their new album sooner rather than later, so you can keep your eyes peeled for that.
You can pre-order Death of Permanence through Bandcamp or the label, and be sure to follow Threestepstotheocean on Facebook and Instagram as well.
