When I heard that Anciients were returning, I couldn’t quite believe it. A band I’d written off long ago, they were easily one of my favourite artists as prog shifted away from djent and towards classier acts like Intronaut, The Ocean, and Baroness. Heart of Oak captured audiences worldwide and their sophomore record, Voice of the Void clocked them a Juno award soon after. Yet they disappeared, but have now returned and dare I say it, to deliver their opus.
Beyond the Reach of the Sun is everything you want from a modern prog record, sporting an unbelievable amount of high-quality, mind-bending solos, incredible vocal harmonies, and song transitions so smooth, that you’re liable to think one song has passed when it has been three. Packing ten magnificent tracks and clocking in at nearly an hour, strap in for one hell of a ride. Anciients have packed so much content in here, ranging from the funkier grooves, through to the 70s keyboard-driven sounds, that evoke images of old-school arcade machines and the adventures you could go on.
Considering the huge lineup changes since 2016 Anciients have managed to keep their signature sound intact, but certainly have built on it and delivered one of the cleanest sounding metal records I’ve heard in a while. First and foremost, the change in vocal duties for lead Kenny Cook, now the sole vocalist, seems to have paid dividends, with more time for the instruments to talk but has also really accentuated the deft switching by Kenny between clean and harsh vocals. Reading into the biography of the band since 2016, you can feel the anguish and emotion poured into the writing and the delivery of the lyrics, yet thankfully it sounds like things have worked out for him, and he can rest easy knowing how fucking awesome Beyond the Reach of the Sun has turned out.
What strikes me and separates the album from Anciients peers of late, is that each track is wholeheartedly unique. There are tonal shifts that drive home the feeling of a concept that ties the record together, with each song having different chapters in an epic story. The epicness comes through in the outstanding crescendos scattered throughout, where all elements of the band come together in an outstanding furore. What I feel helps this land constantly throughout the record is the smart pacing of tracks, with some almost teetering on blackened metal, before slowing right down to their signature progressive metal.
“Cloak of the Vast and Black” is one of the best examples of this. A slow proggy build-up instantly launches into an awesome thrashy epic. The vocals are almost drowned out by the wicked pace and power of the drums and guitars. The track reminds me of DVNE, sporting numerous peaks and troughs, whilst maintaining a constant intensity that gets the blood flowing and the head banging. Helped by the exceptionally clean mix, “Cloak” is a track to show any friends who haven’t heard of Anciients before, with it eventually leading into some of their more proggy and downtempo qualities, to cap a complete showcase of their talent.
I particularly like the drums in the album, with Mike Hannay delivering a masterclass performance that drives that aforementioned intensity. Blackened bursts, thundering kicks, and really well mixed hats combine to levy upon the listener a furious but well metered performance, that accentuates riffs to the max. “The Torch” has some of my favourite drums on the album, with the big kicks leading into some of the best riffs on the album. Guitar motifs are also littered throughout the record, with numerous songs having licks that’ll stick in your mind for days.
Having been down a sci-fi rabbit hole of late, the exceptional penultimate track “Candescence” has been an absolute banger for gaming and those late-night dog walks to gaze at the stars in the countryside. The synths and keyboards by guests absolutely shine, with a Mass Effect atmosphere delivered within a kickass metal package.
Adding to this otherworldly feeling is the yet again stunning art of Adam Burke on the frontpage. A celestial entity looming over travellers, I look forward to having this piece displayed on my wall when the vinyl arrives! Needless to say, this album is a pure hit, a solid 10/10 and will no doubt be summiting many people’s album of the year lists come December. To come back so strong after so much turmoil, with a completely refreshed lineup (not to mention a bass player change a week before recording), is monumental. To deliver an opus along with it – stunning. Look forward to this record and pray they tour near you soon!
