Anthesis is the sophomore release of Australia’s Suldusk. What began as a solo endeavour from the incredibly talented Emily Highfield, Album number two employs a fully formed band that continues a breathtakingly beautiful yet harrowing experience in equal measure.
Anthesis is an album that defies expectations, every promise hinted at on their landmark debut Lunar Falls is expanded, the melodies grander yet so simply beautiful, the heavy parts a sharp and painful contrast that are distressing and anguished as on the remarkable ‘’Verdalet’’. Everything is layered every crescendo a maelstrom of fury as fierce as the worst storm yet at others as calm as the morning after as on ‘’Sphaera’’ and the ethereal ‘’Crystalline”. The musical interplay between instruments on ‘’Mythical Creatures’’ is transcendent and surprising with its innate ability to be so gentle bordering on the innocent, at times softened yet incredibly tangible. The title tracks the most powerful hymn matched only by the closer ‘’A Luminous End “which is the perfect synthesis of styles and emotions that is majestic in its delivery. Genres no longer matter, Blackgaze, folk, gospel and extreme, whatever, this is music that is apisteftos.
It is the combination of beautiful melodies and extreme soundscapes that evolve naturally elevate Suldusk’s ability to create a masterwork and a truly remarkable album, Anthesis ( to bloom in Greek) is an audible journey of growth that documents both pain and growth, a duality of life and its success and failures and the ability to overcome and celebrate, record and remember. Intense, incredibly powerful and heavy, it is quite possibly the album of the year. Essential.
Suldusk: Facebook
Release Year: 2024
Label: Napalm Records
Category: Album
Country: Australia
Reviewed by Sparky
