SERIOUSLY, FOLKS: LISTEN TO EAST OF THE WALL

East of the Wall’s Ressentiment is one of my favorite metal records of 2010 and you haven’t listened to it yet.

Why not? It’s full of expansive, progressive post-hardcore soundscapes and it’s intelligent beyond belief; it’s like if Walter Schreifels, Page Hamilton and Ben Weinman all went to art school together and put together a master thesis on how to best make awesome metal. Swirling, angular, delay-soaked guitars full of melody and dissonance in equal measures, weaving and winding basslines and propulsive, driving, yet tastefully intricate drums set the backdrop for explosive songs that take you on a journey and don’t get lost in themselves. It’s a challenging record, sure, but that’s the beauty of it: each listen to this album unfolds new layers of awesomeness that make you go “Ah! I get it now.”

We premiered the album-opening track “The Ladder” back in July. Two more songs from Ressentiment are available on EOTW’s MySpace. I can’t recommend listening enough. You will not be disappointed!

-VN