Dan Hillier
Forming in 2007, post-metal act Toundra have existed in a state of constant activity, releasing an extensive back catalogue of seven full lengths and appearing at Desertfest Antwerp, Download Madrid and Reconstruction Fest whilst simultaneously selling out large scale shows across Europe. But of course, recent events forced the band to revaluate their journey, and in tandem, pulled them into an existentialist rabbit hole where they pondered the nature of humanity and its many flaws.
With limitless time at their disposal, Toundra entered a deep dive of studying the human condition, and after witnessing an act of revolting homophobia, began contemplating the unnatural nature of hatred. particularly how it’s an inherent product of the human condition, how our culture promotes unjustifiable aggression, how it propels our global society into blind perpetual conflict; but also how it’s one that propels action against such warfare and xenophobia. It’s a bold concept to explore, certainly one that gives meaning to their new record Hex. As well as being their finest hour, it shows Toundra are far more than just the Spanish lovechild of Pelican and Russian Circles.
Split into distinct halves, the first side of Hex is where this conceptual study of humanity is explored. Entitled ‘El Odio’ – which translates to ‘The Hatred’ – the track is a 22 minute musical documentation, split into three separate movements. Somewhat presented as the musical soundtrack to the realisations that led to the birth of this record, the three movements pull and tug in a nature that’s fluid, organic and erratic at times, mirroring the complex and ineffable nature of hate. Barbed and ironclad basslines reminiscent of Russian Circles’ latest record Blood Moon entangle and combat sparking riffs in a fight for supremacy that feels equally matched and respective, with the arrhythmic and explosive drumming of Álex Pérez spurring the ongoing battle forwards into bleak and brooding territories as it progresses.
This interplay isn’t anything extraordinary for post-metal, but it’s post-metal done right. Despite the length of ‘El Odio’ as a whole, the track is engaging and stimulating, a sweeping and aggressive soundscape that sees math-oriented percussion, crackling synths, menacing acoustics and bladed riffs being incorporated into the fray with care. It highlights Hex’s key strength in its deeply considered pacing. The track shows the band’s skill in building momentum in a way that’s continuously thrilling, never once too hasty or glacial. Toundra showcase their mastery in slow building tension and release from the minimalist to the maximalist, and as ‘El Odio Parte III’ leads into its final passage, we’re treated to a spellbinding crescendo of post-rock splendour that’s reminiscent of the most acclaimed moments from acts such as PG.Lost, If These Trees Could Talk and even Explosions In The Sky. Truly, even referencing this moment in the record feels like a spoiler; it’s one that solidifies Hex’s brilliance and one that shows they are far more than the mere sum of their components.
The second side of Hex further refines the integral components of the post-metal sound. ‘Ruinas’ carefully tinkers with textures and riffs in a way that’s comparable to Sleepmakeswaves, and ‘La Larga Marcha’ weaves in ethereal electronics with surgical precision, elevating the emotional depth and providing an antidote to Hex’s spine-breaking density. ‘Watt’, on the other hand, is a left-field move, experimenting with western scales and disjointed saxophones – apparently inspired by King Crimson – in a way that’s fresh and totally unexpected. It’s a dizzying exercise in musical interplay and while is in no way pacifying, is immensely enjoyable.
As the album reaches its climax with the suitably titled and reflective ‘FIN’, it’s clear Toundra don’t remake the post-metal wheel with this record. What they do is showcase what the genre is capable of when crafted with finesse, a well considered concept and legitimate human emotion. Whereas many acts within this genre create music just for the love of creating music, Hex is a powerful exercise of expelling deep-rooted thoughts. It’s authentic, heartfelt, provocative, and finally, it raises the bar high for post-metal in 2022.