THÅRN – Collisions | Album Review

Trends in music come and go; we’ve seen the resurgence of old school death metal, thrash, crossover and more. One that’s been gathering steam and shows no sign of slowing, though, is the cross-pollination of genres, opening up whole new sonic worlds for exploration. THÅRN, a post-metal duo from London who formed right before the world went into lockdown, aim to do exactly that on their debut album Collisions. While they broadly fall under the post-metal umbrella, there’s elements of sludge, crust, hardcore and more folded into their broad palette. 

Another thing it’s important to bear in mind approaching Collisions is that this isn’t an easy listen, nor was it ever designed to be. It’s uncomfortable, raw and cathartic, the sound of trauma being worked through desolate howls and crushing guitars. Opener ‘The Way’ sets the scene with its minimalist guitar motif at the beginning before pained vocals and drums enter. It’s unsettling and it builds in intensity from there, before taking the plunge into the murky depths. ‘Replacements’ is a gargantuan song, over a quarter of the entire album’s run time but without ever feeling stagnant or overlong. Similarly, ‘Mute’ is a crushing affair, the shifts between quieter passages and desolate heaviness feel organic and natural progressions within the song. Finally, closer ‘Shadow Of Another’ almost promises salvation but never reaches it, instead leaving a feeling of unresolved tension and emptiness.

The songs vividly evoke feelings of isolation, restriction and stagnation, something many will have become all too familiar with over the last four years. The duo pour this negativity into four crushing, apocalyptic songs that are experienced more than heard; the anguish is palpable and deeply resonant. Across  the four songs that make up Collisions there’s upheaval and emotional turmoil, songs that are blunt and crushing while also being textured, patient and waiting for the right moment to shift and change between movements. 

All of this is mixed expertly by Joe Clayton who’s made a name for himself working with bands from Leeched to and Pijn, both of whom capture different moods and facets of the emotional spectrum. His ability to capture this and transform it, his work always recognisable without sacrificing the essence of the band, shines here and really helps THÅRN to reach the peaks and troughs across Collisions. 

The beauty of post-metal lies in its contradictions; there’s beauty in its ugliness, meaning in its unresolved tension and light even the darkest passages. THÅRN achieve just that, even in such a harrowing release that examines its darkness without ever truly seeming to find a way out. Rather, it learns to live in that darkness and accept it and it’ll surely resonate with post-metal aficionados and all those who struggled throughout the pandemic.