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Gaia

A Cure for Time

Written by: BV on 22/08/2016 21:49:38

In some ways I would love to tell you how Gaia is this new band I literally just found out existed. However, that is most definitely not the case as I bought their first album, “Reality Field”, on cassette when it first came out in 2014. As to my reasons for not having reviewed said album, I can only say that time is a bitch – particularly my lack thereof and inability to control it. Coincidentally that’s exactly where Gaia comes into the equation once more with their second full-length album, “A Cure for Time”, an album which allegedly deals with said inability to control time and the like. Rather fitting, I’d say.

Opening with “Somewhere”, Gaia instantly sounds remarkably different from the soundscape presented on “Reality Field”. There is a crisper, more defined edge to the still murky proceedings which gives it all an air of identity which “Reality Field” definitely lacked. I can identify “Somewhere” as opposed to the tracks which made up “Reality Field” – none of which I can actually name as I am typing up this review. It also sounds a fair bit faster as well, giving the otherwise doomy compositions a strange air of madness to them where you’re not quite certain of the direction things will move in. It’s a welcome change of pace in a genre dominated by brooding, dense and extremely slow riffing – which is, of course, also quite nice.

There is an overwhelming feeling of disillusionment seething through the album – perhaps not lyrically as I can hardly hear those at all, as they are bathed in manic echoes (just how I like them), but most definitely in the sounds the band conjure up. The bass-heavy feedback-howls are overwhelming in a fitting manner, the riffs almost sound like genuine themes of the tracks and there is a sense of cohesion present which most definitely is a new thing in Gaia’s musical palette (as far as I know). Although there’s nothing really innovative about the sounds presented, you can hardly argue against banging your head to the steady riff of tracks like “I Thought I Had Left This World” and take your time doing so, seeing as “I Thought I Had Left This World” clocks in as the shortest track, reaching just about 5 minutes in duration.

The air of psychedelia on “A Cure for Time” is also quite prominent, adding further depth to these themes of escapism, lack of control, discomfort with the concept of time and the like. It’s rather fitting and serves the album well in general. There are plenty of shortcomings in addition to this, however; most notably the love for excruciatingly long tracks. For those unwilling or unable to appreciate the hypnotic drive of a 15-minute riff-fest, this album will most likely serve as an active repellant. But then again, if you aren’t able to appreciate lengthy riffing, are you really into stoner and doom inspired metal to begin with? Anyway, “A Cure for Time” is a solid follow-up effort to “Reality Field” which shows remarkable improvement in songwriting craft.

Download: I Thought I Had Left This World, Somewhere, Nowhere
For The Fans Of: Toner Low, Slowjoint, Monolord
Listen: facebook.com

Release date 18.06.2016
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