Worship Metal Album of the Week – Ether – There Is Nothing Left For Me Here

Source // Ether

Simply put, There Is Nothing Left For Me Here, the second release from Florida’s Ether, is a dirge-fest inspired by separation, abandonment and regret. Composed as a band member went through a divorce, the pain of the experience is on full display here and withEther consisting primarily of members of the hardcore band Remembering Never, you could be forgiven for assuming they’d unleash a furious assault of chugging riffs and unbridled anger in such a situation. While those elements are incorporated, There Is Nothing Left For Me Here is actually an all-encompassing showcase of dark emotion and varying musical styles.

A brief intro track, featuring a sample of Billie Holiday’s rendition of “Gloomy Sunday” (also known as “The Hungarian Suicide Song”) with guitar feedback and screams echoing in the background, gives you a sample of the bleak, emotional ride you’re in for and while first proper track, “For Every Nail, a Noose,” begins in familiar hardcore fashion, everything then changes.

A slow, pummeling post-metal chord progression launches its invasion 90 seconds into the song and vocalist/guitarist Peter Kovalsky ditches his hardcore scream for a magnificent, booming croon, harmonized with Devin Estep’s higher range. Kovalsky’s voice is somehow soothing while still conveying a suffocating melancholy and his vocals are incredible on this album while Estep also contributes some great singing and ragged screams and bassist Joshua Shomburg even fills a Dave Edwardson-like role, injecting deep growls from behind the big strings on occasion. There’s a perfect mix of harsh and clean vocals throughout the album and those open to such a variety of vocal styles in their heavy music will find it to be one of the album’s shining features.

The music on There Is Nothing Left For Me Here is wonderfully varied as well. A number of influences are clear but they’re well blended, resulting in familiar sounds that still have Ether’s own formidable stamp etched into them. Hardcore does make up the backbone of the album but airy post-metal sections and Crowbar-esque sludge elements keep every minute of the album interesting. Acoustic interludes and even and some mournful violin (think At the Gates circa The Red in the Sky is Ours) are employed here.

This album simply has something for everyone.

With excellent vocal performances, bleak and varied riffing within strong song structures and lyrics and tone that reek of those shitty feelings that life loves to dump on you, There Is Nothing Left For Me Here should absolutely be given a spin…..by everyone! 9/10

There is Nothing Left For Me Here will be released on July 7th 2017 on CD, cassette, vinyl and digital formats.

Ether is:
Daniel Burger: drums
Devin Estep: guitar/vox
Peter Kovalsky: guitar/vox/banjo/toy piano
Joshua Shomburg: bass/vox/gong
George Geanuracos: violin/vox

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