Album Review: So Hideous - Laurestine
By Eric Perzanowski, Staff Writer
[Prosthetic; 2015]
Rating: 4.5/5
Key Tracks: “Yesteryear,” “Relinquish,” “The True Pierce”
Laurestine is So Hideous’ sophomore album, and is a marvelously written composition that features a distinct blend of classical and orchestral components with several styles of metal.
Building off of So Hideous’ first full-length effort, Last Poem/First Light, the group expands upon the ambient and orchestral aspects of its sound, most prominently the latter. A 30-piece orchestra was assembled for this work.
Laurestine is something that should not necessarily be dealt with as just a “metal album.” While the metallic elements are prominent, the orchestral compositions play just as an important role. One could even pose that the “metal” in this piece plays the complementary role to the orchestra.
Film scores and classical music have plenty of influence on So Hideous’ work. Guitarist Brandon Cruz even cites Beethoven and Ennio Morricone among main influences. In fact, Laurestine could best be taken in as a score to the film created by the story and concept behind it.
The narrative concept to Laurestine follows a man “through a series of distant memories, fragmented life events juxtaposed with experiences well beyond the scope of his understanding” on his way to the afterlife. Symbolism plays a large role behind the concept of Laurestine as well. The number seven occurs in many different facets of the album, including the 7/4 and 7/8 time signatures in which the album was written.
Through it all, Laurestine is a captivating 40-minute recording that stands out as one of the most unique and complete albums of the year. This is certainly something to best be digested with a set a headphones, for your ears to soak in and absorb.
