
Shape shifter
-- Meander --
06/04/2020
Stijn Daneels

Album genres:
■ | Post-metal |
■ | Progressive Metal |
■ | Sludge metal |
Album artists:
■ | Martin Rossignol | Bass |
■ | Pierre Schifflers | Vocals, drums |
■ | Alex-Mehdi Fakroune | Guitar |
Review
written by Stijn “Metal Shredder” Daneels.
[METAL SHREDDER REPORTING]
In June
2019 I attended a post-metal dual gig featuring Last of Us and Meander in the
Gonzo Music Bar in Ninove. As always, I quickly got in touch with both bands.
Last year Last of Us released their debut album “Swarm” (which I shredded here:
http://belgianmetalshredder.be/reviews/101) and now it’s Meander’s turn to
bring me some recorded material. You all know what’s coming next!
[SHREDDING BASICS]
Meander is
the independently released eponymous debut EP from this Brussels-based post-metal
band and sent directly to me by the band’s drumming vocalist Pierre. This
4-track release begins with the softly grinding riffs and meditative vocals of
“Thousand Shapes” but after its first 3 minutes, the song intensifies
significantly with sharper, bass heavy riffs and several guitar solos before
cooling down again to the same calmness as in the song’s beginning.
The EP’s
second track, “Sowing the Seeds of Ruination,” is the shortest and fastest song
on this release and shows Meander’s heavier side with frantic drums, howling
vocals and thunderous guitars. Up next is, “Fading Light,” which begins with a
smooth jam that gradually gets more complex and powerful as the bass and drums
join in. The song eventually becomes a psychedelic post-metal trip with
frequent tempo and vocal changes and beautiful guitar work. The EP ends with
“Unwavering,” which provides a mix-up of all the traits from the earlier songs and
this tune’s epic guitar solo finale makes for a great ending to this excellent
EP.
[SHREDDING VISION]
Like with
many other post-metal releases the cover art of Meander’s debut EP is
deliberately vague. It’s just a ton of white, grey, brown and green but that
gives the artwork plenty of room for self-interpretation. Personally, I see the
cover as a coastline with its sands partially covered by seaweed.
[SHARPEST SHREDS & BLUNTEST BLADES]
My favorite
track on Meander’s EP is the short and sweet “Sowing the Seeds of Ruination.”
The song has a very hectic feel with its fast-paced drums, crushing guitars and
desperate vocals. I also love the surprising catchiness of “Fading Light,” particularly
the song’s sexy opening riff made me spontaneously swing my head and hips.
I did feel
that the EP was a bit too short for my tastes. Its 4 tracks came and went much
quicker than I had initially expected, so let’s hope Meander will further
expand their repertoire to bring us a full-length release soon.
[SHREDDER’S SCORECARD]
8 sand castles out of 10. While
Meander doesn’t reinvent the post-metal wheel they do manage to cram a varied, powerful
and atmospheric experience into a short 4-track package. Well-recommended if
you enjoy acts like Amen Ra, Tool or Mastodon. Here’s “Thousand Shapes.”