Progzilla Radio

The Show That Never Ends!

Los Angeles (-8) New York (-5) Progzilla Time! Brussels (+1) Sydney (+11)
  • Home
  • Presenters
    • Alan “The Krazz” Kraslow
    • Andrew Wild
    • Anthony Rowsick
    • Brian ‘Ocelot’ Watson
    • Cliff ‘Progzilla’ Pearson
    • David Elliott
    • Ed Wilkins
    • Emma ‘Chrysoprasia’ Roebuck
    • Graham Harfleet
    • Ian Fairholm
    • Jim Lawson
    • Joel Horwitz
    • Mike Pollack
    • Mike Whitfield
    • Peter Jones
    • Shaun Geraghty
    • Sid Smith
    • Simon & Stacy Godfrey, Mike Lord and Tom Roche
    • Stacy ‘The Sock’ Doller
    • Steve Blease
    • Steve ‘Progmeister’ Petch
    • Ziggy the AutoDJ
    • Former Presenters
      • Andy Tillison
      • Dave Watkins
      • Francis Dunnery
      • Geoff Banks
      • Ian Oakley
      • Jon ‘Twang’ Patrick
      • Peter Munro
      • Tom Slatter
  • Shows
    • 101 Dimensions
    • A Certain… Prog Prog
    • Epileptic Gibbon
    • Friday Rock Show
    • Heavy Elements
    • Krazzloft Vinyl Show
    • Live From Progzilla Towers
      • Live From Progzilla Towers Archive
    • New Music Mornings
    • Northern Star
    • Not The American Prog Show
    • Podcasts From The Yellow Room
    • Progressive Tracks
    • Prog-Watch
    • Progzilla Sundays
      • American Prog
      • Halcyon Daze
      • The Progzilla Files
    • Sounds That Can Be Made
    • Tabletop Genesis
    • Tales From The Tiger Moth
    • The Ancient One
    • The European Perspective
    • The PM Show
    • The Prog Mill
    • The Prog Squad
    • The Progressive Rock Show
    • Former Shows
      • Dance On A Volcano
      • Focus On…
      • House Of Progression
      • In The DogHouse
      • Prog Britannia
      • Stuff
      • The Big House
      • The Francis Dunnery Radio Show
      • The Progzilla Files presents The A-Z of…
      • To Infinity And Beyond
      • Tom Slatter’s Sunday Bootleg
  • Schedule
  • Listen Live
  • Chat Room
  • Podcasts
  • Poll
  • About
    • Contact
    • Submit Your Music

Album Review: Garganjua – Toward the Sun

Posted by Prog Sphere on March 30, 2020
Posted in: ProgSphere. Tagged: ProgSphere News.

This news story was originally published here: https://www.prog-sphere.com/reviews/garganjua-toward-the-sun-review/

There’s a real vulnerability to Toward the Sun, the third studio album by Leicester doom metal quartet Garganjua. The group’s form of doom metal has been stripped completely to its core elements, and in doing so, it’s become its own entity that encapsulates a much clearer vision.

It’s easy to see on a surface level that Garganjua took many of the key elements of the genre’s stalwarts: the soaring vocal melodies, the slow moving guitar melodies (not really riffs), the arguably simple structures, and so on. When put on screen like this, it seems that not much has changed for the long-standing music style. If anything, Toward the Sun is testament to just how much a focus shift can change the very chemistry of sound. Make absolutely no mistake—this is and this is not a doom metal album. The guitars here are far cleaner with only a slight haze of fuzzy overdrive, and the melodies are almost all primarily in singers’ vocals, the instrumentation (though intricate if you look closely) simply intended as a backdrop to the subject matter and mood. If you’re afraid of this change, you likely aren’t the intended audience.

Toward the Sun, oddly, sounds like the full realization of the music that Garganjua have wanted to make for years. When you look closer at the progression between the three albums, one can easily be surprised that the band didn’t sound as they do in 2020 much earlier. From meeting that expectation, Toward the Sun feels so much more honest. There’s a serious challenge involved with objectively reviewing something that seems so stripped bare of facade; so naked and upfront, whilst simultaneously being enshrouded in an enigmatic haze. There is a far deeper emotional pool on Toward the Sun the band draws from, far beyond what you could discern from face value.

With much more robust song structures, Toward the Sun feels less sequential and moves much more freely between the pieces. Garganjua’s compositions have always had a tendency to revel in a singular vibe for each song’s runtime, but the far more natural mood shifts mean you seldom know where any given track might take you. The sparser, airier sound palette also gives the band members a lot more space to work with when it comes to letting these songs wander through differentiating sections. The gradual shifts in “Mire” is quite the emotional journey, subduing the listener into a pensive state. Even the subtle building in tracks like “Transcendence” and “Light Bearer” seem far more noticeable in this album’s context. In turn, there’s a real vastness to this record that neither 2016’s A Voyage in Solitude or 2018’s Through the Void couldn’t quite reach.

Toward the Sun works like a living, breathing organism, where each aspect is vital to the “life” of the album. Those who experience it will have a difficult time forgetting it.

Toward the Sun is out now via Holy Roar Records; order it from Bandcamp here. Follow Garganjua on Facebook.

Garganjua - Toward the Sun

The post Album Review: Garganjua – Toward the Sun appeared first on Prog Sphere.

Tweet

Related

Posts navigation

← Podcast 115: Tales From The Tiger Moth 28th March 2020
Pattern Seeking Animals: : release first track 'Here In My Autumn' off forthcoming studio album “Prehensile Tales”! – Launch digital & physical presale! →

  • Broadcasting live 24/7/365
  • Connect with Progzilla


    Login Manually
  • Join our mailing list

    Please use the form below to sign up for the Progzilla Radio newsletter and hear about forthcoming events and special shows!
  • The Merch Desk

  • Meet The Progzilla Team

    • Andy Tillison

    • Mike Pollack

    • Jon 'Twang' Patrick

    • Andrew Wild

    • Emma Roebuck

    • Brian Watson

    • Stacy Doller

    • Cliff 'Progzilla' Pearson

    • Shaun Geraghty

    • Anthony Rowsick

    • Sid Smith

    • Tabletop Genesis

    • Jim Lawson

    • Ziggy The AutoDJ

    • Mike Whitfield

    • Steve 'Progmeister' Petch

    • Graham Harfleet

  • Recent Tracks

    Loading ...
  • PayPal Donation

  • Upcoming Shows

    Jan
    20
    Wed
    14:00 Stacy Doller On Progzilla Radio
    Stacy Doller On Progzilla Radio
    Jan 20 @ 14:00 – 16:00
    Presented by Stacy Doller
    16:00 The Pm Show (repeat)
    The Pm Show (repeat)
    Jan 20 @ 16:00 – 18:00
     
    18:00 Heavy Elements
    Heavy Elements
    Jan 20 @ 18:00 – 20:00
    Presented by Steve Blease
    20:00 Live From Progzilla Towers
    Live From Progzilla Towers
    Jan 20 @ 20:00 – 23:00
    Presented by Cliff Pearson
    23:00 Prog-Watch
    Prog-Watch
    Jan 20 @ 23:00 – Jan 21 @ 01:00
    Presented by Tony Rowsick
    Jan
    21
    Thu
    01:00 Sounds That Can Be Made With Ste...
    Sounds That Can Be Made With Ste...
    Jan 21 @ 01:00 – 03:30
    US friendly repeat of Sounds That Can Be Made With Steve Blease !
    03:30 A Certain Prog Prog With Ed Wilkins
    A Certain Prog Prog With Ed Wilkins
    Jan 21 @ 03:30 – 06:00
    A US friendly repeat of A Certain Prog Prog with Ed Wilkins!
    15:00 Sounds That Can Be Made
    Sounds That Can Be Made
    Jan 21 @ 15:00 – 17:30
    Presented by Steve Blease
    18:00 The PM Show
    The PM Show
    Jan 21 @ 18:00 – 20:00
    Presented by Joel Horwitz
    20:00 Northern Star
    Northern Star
    Jan 21 @ 20:00 – 23:00
    Northern Star presented by Emma Roebuck
    View Calendar
    Add
    • Add to Timely Calendar
    • Add to Google
    • Add to Outlook
    • Add to Apple Calendar
    • Add to other calendar
    • Export to XML
  • Advertising

  • RSS ProgArchives Reviews

    • NEED Norchestrion: A Song For The End (Progressive Metal, 2021)
      Review by ssmarcus — The last few years have seen the emergence, from the underground, of more traditionally oriented prog metal; international, up-and-coming, and independently produced acts that, knowingly or unknowingly, shunned some of the biggest trends in 2010's progressive metal and have clung to the melodicism and power of Queensryche and the classic prog […]
    • JOHN PETRUCCI Terminal Velocity (Progressive Metal, 2020)
      Review by Isaac Peretz — A very strong one from Mr. Petrucci! Far better and more mature than his first solo, fifteen years ago. Terminal Velocity is a showcase of John Petrucci's technique and composition skills and he nails both of them flawlessly! Every single instrumental is worth your time and can be entertaining and […]
    • SOEN Imperial (Experimental/Post Metal, 2021)
      Review by alainPP — SOEN is the Swedish super-group with its own sound; he has been working in progressive metal, in post-metal experimental since 2004 and released his first album in 2012, a mix of prog, dark, doom clearly indicating their repeated listening to PINK FLOYD and other SEPULTURA, surely also those of ANATHEMA , […]
    • ALAN DAVEY Hawkestrel: spaceXmas (Psychedelic/Space Rock, 2020)
      Review by kev rowland — Here is another which arrived too late for me to write about before Christmas and is the latest in a host of recordings which have been released by ex-Hawkwind bassist Alan Davey over the last couple of years. I have no real idea of the line-up, but apparently includes performances […]
    • THE OCEAN Phanerozoic II: Mesozoic | Cenozoic (Experimental/Post Metal, 2020)
      Review by progtime1234567 — Two bands play the a perfect blend of progressive metal and post metal. Those bands are Isis and The Ocean. On the latest album by The Ocean, (or The Ocean Collective) the band follows up their last album with great success. The two albums are separate parts of each other, and […]
    • KATATONIA City Burials (Progressive Metal, 2020)
      Review by progtime1234567 — Katatonia don't really sound the same on any of their albums because they are always changing their ever-evolving sound to what they see fit. Bands who do this aren't doing it to annoy people, (although they might unintentionally annoy some individuals) they do it because they don't feel pressured by anyone […]
    • MY DYING BRIDE The Ghost of Orion (Tech/Extreme Prog Metal, 2020)
      Review by progtime1234567 — I love me some My Dying Bride and I'm glad that they're included on this website. Bands like My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, early Anathema, Draconian, October Tide, early Katatonia, and Type O Negative all play dark, gloomy, and drab music but I eat it up and it makes me happy […]
    • WHITE STONES Kurahy (Tech/Extreme Prog Metal, 2020)
      Review by UMUR — "Kuarahy" is the debut full-length studio album by Spanish, Barcelona based progressive death metal act White Stones. The album was released through Nuclear Blast in March 2020. White Stones formed in 2019 and is a side project for Opeth bassist Martín Méndez. Méndez plays bass and guitars on the album and […]
    • KAPREKAR'S CONSTANT Meanwhile... (Crossover Prog, 2020)
      Review by kev rowland — There is no doubt in my mind that one of the most interesting progressive rock bands to come out the UK in recent years are Kaprekar's Constant. Here we have their latest EP, which contains four new songs and a total running length of just 17 minutes, which is quite […]
    • IZZ Half Life (Symphonic Prog, 2020)
      Review by kev rowland — American proggers Izz are back with an EP to tide us over until the next album, which is due out in 2021. I have the digital release, which contains three new songs and a previously unreleased live version of "The Wait of It All," a track originally featured on their […]
  • Recent Posts

    • Steve Hackett – Under A Mediterranean Sky
    • PROGRESSIVE TRACKS SHOW #399 (Turning The Corner…)
    • From the Attic 12
    • The Grand Astoria – From The Great Beyond
    • Podcast – The Prog Mill edition 244 – 17 January 2021
  • Recent Comments

    • 2019 the Top Albums - Progzilla Radio on Heavy Elements
    • Maria Camargo on Home
    • Mark Monforti on Home
    • Michael Brooks on Home
    • Podcast 191: Northern Star 8th November 2018 - Progzilla Radio on Northern Star
  • Subscribe To Podcasts

    • 101 Dimensions
    • American Prog
    • Dance On A Volcano
    • Heavy Elements
    • Live From Progzilla Towers
    • Northern Star
    • Not The American Prog Show
    • Podcasts From The Yellow Room
    • Prog Britannia
    • Progressive Tracks
    • Prog-Watch
    • Sounds That Can Be Made
    • Stuff
    • Tales From The Tiger Moth
    • The Ancient One
    • The Francis Dunnery Radio Show
    • The Prog Mill
  • Categories

    • FaceBook (2,859)
    • Gigs, Tours & Festivals (96)
      • publicity Connection (1)
    • News (4,770)
      • DPRP (7)
      • Inside Out Music (508)
      • Press release (8)
      • ProgSphere (1,937)
      • Reviews (1)
      • The Progressive Aspect (1,142)
    • Podcast (2,986)
      • 101 Dimensions (117)
      • 5th Anniversary (17)
      • American Prog (57)
      • Dance On A Volcano (6)
      • Francis Dunnery Radio Show (42)
      • Friday Rock Show (37)
      • Halcyon Daze (17)
      • Heavy Elements (266)
      • In The DogHouse (21)
      • Krazzloft Vinyl Show (120)
      • Live From Progzilla Towers (298)
      • Northern Star (304)
      • NotTheAmericanProgShow (205)
      • PM Show (16)
      • Podcasts From The Yellow Room (83)
      • Prog Britannia (16)
      • Progressive Tracks (242)
      • ProgWatch (222)
      • Sounds That Can Be Made (268)
      • Special (9)
      • Steve Petch The Progmeister Show (27)
      • Stuff (18)
      • Tales From The Tiger Moth (137)
      • The Ancient One (147)
      • The Prog Mill (244)
      • The Progressive Rock Show (26)
      • The Progzilla Files (1)
    • Poll (14)
    • Uncategorized (1)
  • Archives

    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    • June 2015
    • May 2015
    • April 2015
    • March 2015
    • January 2015
  • Powered By…


    Clocks by: TimeAndDate.com
  • Internet Radio Directory

    Internet Radio
Proudly powered by WordPress Theme: Parament by Automattic.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Necessary
Always Enabled