First EP for Junon.
But don’t imagine they’re beginners. After thirteen years under the name of General Lee and four years of hiatus, Arnaud Palmowski (vocals), Fabien Zwernemann (guitar), Martin Catoire (guitar), Alex Renaux (guitar), Vincent Perdicaro (bass) and Florian Urbaniak (drums) are back in the saddle with The Shadows Lenghten.
“Only” four songs, but it’s enough to understand Junon’s motivation is as vivid as it could have been in the past. About their style, nothing has changed, it’s an energetic and vindictive Post-Hardcore dyed with greasy Sludge the six musicians offers, beginning with Sorcerer. The rhythm part is thick and weighing, piercing leads spike us and wonderfully walk with the band’s howlings, while making us nod. Catchy riffs resume on Carcosa, the first single released in december, it is impossible not to be caught by this flood of furor. The songs’ haunting tone is suffocating, but softer backing vocals make them very attractive, creating a delightful contrast. Sometimes the storm of sound gets darker shades, like on Floof Preacher, a song with more complex riffs. The chaotic rhythm basis is decorated with those soaring and heady harmonics, but it is still able to conscientiously crush us before a ghostly break. The dark atmosphere becomes mysterious and threatening with The Bleeding, the last song, that continues on this aggressive way before suddenly slowing down with this soft break but fury isn’t really far, and the take-over is worth the singer’s voice intensity.
Those four years of hiatus were a good thing for Junon, of which motivation is now as intense as their sound. The Shadows Lenghten is short, but easily makes us eagerly wait for the next step.
90/100