I copped significant flack for daring to suggest that the last Hail Spirit Noir outing deserved a mere 2.0 score; perhaps more flack than any other score I’ve ever awarded. Numerous – unwashed – commenters informed me that my opinion (formed over several weeks prior to release, versus their two listens on release day) was, in fact, wrong, and possibly even biased. The passage of four years has firmly validated my opinion. I re-listened to Eden in Reverse while preparing for these Greeks’ return. As previously described, it’s not terrible; just terribly lethargic and dreary. This stuck out from a quirky, inventive discography before 2020. Rest assured that in 2024 they offer a predictably unpredictable experience with Fossil Gardens. Though the bar for my formerly high expectations had been lowered, I now find myself enjoying them once more.
Hail Spirit Noir are never a band to rest on their laurels and Fossil Gardens pushes back towards blacker territory than we’ve heard from them in a decade. It features a couple of passages of blast beats and/or tremolo-picked guitars per song (just listen to the badass introduction to the title track!), save for the odd-but-enjoyable interlude called “Ludwig in Orbit.” On first brush, it could almost hoodwink you into thinking this is primarily a black metal release. Despite its blackened influences, it’s far more progressive, textured, and varied than anything out of Norway in the 90s. Describing the band as anything other than progressive metal wouldn’t be accurate. This is no bad thing; as stated previously, I have absolutely no qualms with proggy bands divesting themselves of their former, extreme metal homes. But the heavier crunch here comprehensively stamps out the torpor I experience from Eden in Reverse.
So what sort of progressive music does Fossil Gardens offer? It eschews slow builds and gradual development in favor of immediate energy and dynamism. “The Road to Awe” is the giant anchor track and the best representative of what this album tries to be. It emerges from a distant star system with the types of cosmic synths that I love, layering whining guitars and other synths as the introduction progresses. Surprisingly compelling soft singing later fills the front of the mix; the singer’s croon is stronger than ever and ties together with solid vocal hooks. The inevitable blast beats command the song within a few minutes, bolstered by the overarching synth melodies sitting above. Things escalate with heaviness before an album-highlight vocal transition from 5:10 that flips into a slower passage with chants. Likewise, the second half of the song blends a variety of heavier riffs and brief pauses. In short, Hail Spirit Noir offer grand, ambitious song-writing. It’s hard for me to fault the desire to create imaginative, dynamic music here.
The varied, kinetic songwriting and numerous instrumental layers results in Fossil Gardens being an exceptionally busy album. This busyness is always represented efficiently by the immaculate mix and solid mastering. Layers of synths and guitars are well-defined, such that their melody but also their crunch permeates the music. However, this doesn’t really soften the blow of the overly-mercurial songwriting. Insufficient attention is given to individual moments that stand out; from the opening lead on “The Temple of Curved Space” to the vocal hook in the middle of “The Road to Awe,” it feels like the highlight passages are too fleeting. The songs move on, or fail to return, such that it’s difficult to form a strong emotional connection with them. Fossil Gardens therefore feels a little less than the sum of its parts. There’s a lot of admire throughout but I don’t feel as enthused to re-begin as I should once I reach the end.
Even after ten full listens, I feel like I lack the final piece to the puzzle of Fossil Gardens. The one which means I understand how all the component pieces fuse into the overall picture it paints. If this hasn’t happened after so many listens in as many days then maybe it’s not going to. New listeners should know that Hail Spirit Noir haven’t released something straight-forward for easy consumption. What I can’t deny is the record’s boldness. It has bold songwriting, bold instrumentation, and bold production. It offers progressive metal with an especially dramatic flair, thereby flirting with the 3.5 score. It may not be perfect, but it will command your attention and make you ponder its purpose.
Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 256 kbps mp3
Label: Agonia Records
Websites: www.facebook.com/hailspiritnoir | hailspiritnoir.bandcamp.com
Releases worldwide: June 28th, 2024
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