GRASP OF SOLITUDE have put "Luminara" online in full. The Polish duo work the seam between death metal and metalcore, and their debut EP — six songs, out digitally since July 22 — is now streaming in its entirety.
The band started as one person. "Luminara" is the point at which it stopped being one: what was conceived as a solo project by Mateusz Rochon became a two-piece when vocalist Michał Bejger came in, and the EP is the first thing the pair made together. Rochon wrote most of the material, recorded the guitars, and handled production, mixing and mastering himself. Bejger wrote most of the lyrics.
{{youtube:Xgb2LpOna-4}}
It was supposed to be longer. "We initially planned to record a full-length album, but ultimately decided to select the strongest songs and condense the material into an EP," the duo said — a decision more bands should be willing to make, and one that shows in a record with no obvious filler on it.
The other decision was about an instrument, and the band are unusually specific about why. "A major influence on its sound was the Squier Bass VI, a six-string instrument combining characteristics of a guitar and bass. Its 30-inch scale allowed us to use E standard tuning an octave below while retaining clarity, giving the riffs their distinctive weight."
That is a real technical answer to a problem most heavy bands solve by tuning further down and losing definition. A Bass VI sits between the two instruments: six strings, guitar spacing, an octave below standard, on a scale long enough to keep the low end from turning to mud. The rest of the EP moves around it — the opening track was tracked on an eight-string, while "Intolerance" was cut on a standard six.
The cover was painted by Hungarian artist Holo Dreamz, whose work has also appeared for ENTER THE VORTEX, KOCYTUS and WORM SHEPHERD: a hooded figure dissolving into the fog it stands in, carrying the lantern the title takes its name from.
Tracklist:
- Darkest
- Luminara
- Intolerance
- Hollow
- Arsonist
- Windows
Lineup:
- Mateusz Rochon — guitars, bass, drum programming
- Michał Bejger — vocals, guitars
"Luminara" is out now on all major streaming platforms: li.sten.to/9cdts8ta