LP Review: "META" by YLVA

META

It came to my attention recently that my record library and listening to those glorious slabs spinning is my mental floss.

Most days of my life, there is a song in my ear at all times.

The difference is that when it's at work, in the car, or even at a concert, it's a different experience than being at home and watching the rotations of vinyl.

Perhaps it's because this is when I'm listening to full albums front to back and track by track.

There's something a bit magical doing that, especially when it's by masters of the format like Led Zeppelin, Metallica, etc. Sadly, front to back albums isn't as much of a thing as it once was.

Certainly there is a time and a place for everything, but there is something that's wonderful about sitting in a room without a TV connection and listening to music.

YLVA

Australia's YLVA are a post-Metal/Sludge quintet that are out to change all the rules...or something like that.

Let's be clear first, are there any rules regarding any Post-Blank Genres? It's not my impression that these things are clearly defined with lines delineated.

This album features groundswells of emotion. Like many of the new metallers, it's not just anger, but sorrow.

Either way, the Dark Lord of the Sith would approve of the negative emotions on display.

META is different than most sludge records in the modern era because the songs aren't packed with notes. There's nothing wrong with a dense layering of metal lubricated by whale oil, but that's not what YLVA does.

This album allows the listener to intertwine their consciousness into the notes. As the main attraction or a buttress to conversation, META succeeds on all possible levels for me.

Find out where you are when you hear it.

Release: 11/17/17
Genre: Post Metal
Label: Translation Loss Records
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