Born from the isolation and uncertainty of the 2020 lockdown, Beneath a Steel Sky emerged as an instrumental project before evolving into a full-fledged band. Cleave, their debut album, traverses seven tracks of immersive, emotionally-charged soundscapes, veering between desolation and intensity with masterful shifts in tone and mood.
The opener, “The sky above the port was the colour of television tuned to a dead channel” gently introduces atmospheric guitars and slow, crashing drums before morphing into a sudden eruption of haunting vocals and gutteral growls. It’s a gripping start, teasing listeners with the band’s bold vision.
On “Vanguard” Beneath a Steel Sky channel the spirit of heavyweights like Cult of Luna and ISIS, merging clean and abrasive vocals atop sprawling post-metal landscapes. The churning, distorted riffs and dynamic vocal delivery signal that this band is poised to make a mark on the UK post-metal scene. The tension continues with tracks like “Everyone you’ve ever known” “Quetzalcoatlus” and “Cyclical Dunt” which delve deeper into post-rock territory, crafting dark, brooding passages that build tension and heighten the emotional stakes. The vocals, particularly in these moments, are commanding and central to the overall atmosphere.
“The infinite silence that follows the absolute truth” evolves from a soft, textural post-rock intro into a seismic release of crushing riffs and ferocious screams while the album’s closer, “The Becoming” follows a similar trajectory but shifts the focus towards the cleaner vocals for a while before bringing back the heaviness once again and then offering a more ethereal finish with some gorgeous harmonies to an otherwise intense journey.
While Cleave may not completely rewrite the rulebook for the post-metal and post-rock genres, it’s an exceptionally strong debut, showcasing the band’s potential for future success. Fans of both styles will find much to appreciate in the album’s intricate compositions and atmospheric power, and if given the right platform, Beneath a Steel Sky will likely find a well-deserved place in the broader metal scene.