Harakiri for the Sky – Scorched Earth

Aren’t you excited? We finally get our first Post-Metal heavyweight of the year! I’ve been a fan of Harakiri for the Sky since III: Trauma, and though I enjoyed Arson and subsequent releases, it just hasn’t felt the same ever since. Enter Scorched Earth, an album that promises to erase all my doubts and put Harakiri for the Sky back into killer-track territory. There’s good reason to have hope because no other band can portray hopelessness as well as this one does. So let’s believe one more time!

From the get-go, Scorched Earth has all the elements that have made HFTS an iconic band in its little niche. There are many Post-Metal bands that deconstruct the genre, but this album stays loyal to a Melodic Death and almost Doom Metal spirit without ever sounding exactly like either. Does that make sense? Maybe not, but that’s the point. Scorched Earth is a full exploration of all the faces the band has. It doesn’t hold back, to the point that some might say it feels bloated—like a dying star consuming itself before it reaches its final death. That’s exactly what I feel listening to this: the inevitable yet constant passage of time that withers everything in its way.

Yes, there are sick and dry riffs, and yes, there are powerful melodies, but that’s not the main focus. Scorched Earth succeeds by being greater than the sum of its parts. It’s Metal that dares to be vulnerable. It’s still furious and crushing, but it’s not afraid to show a broken soul. Why else are we listening to this if not for an almost desperate attempt to heal? Heal from what we can’t see but live through every day. Holy hell, this album made me feel things I didn’t know were possible. In that sense, it doesn’t disappoint—it’s everything an HFTS album should be.

I have my usual two obnoxious comments, which you can think about while wiping your face from all those tears. Let’s be real—this thing is long. It feels like a documentary about the miseries of the world, and for the psychos in the community, it might feel too mellow at times. The tracks all follow a structure that’s both rewarding and fascinating, but that structure repeats itself constantly. It’s a step up in everything the band does well, but it doesn’t take the risk of changing direction. So don’t expect extreme weirdness here.

Honestly, I was expecting to be disappointed while listening to Scorched Earth. Instead, I found a titanic album that maintains a steady pace and avoids filler—a rarity for albums of this scope. That’s a feat in itself: packing so many golden moments into one release. Anyway, if you’re looking for a soundtrack to your depressive thoughts (if they’re suicidal, please get help—no jokes here), then Scorched Earth can help you feel a little less lonely in this cruel, cold world. It’ll bring some warmth to your broken heart. So open that wallet!

Label: AOP records

Release date: January 24, 2025

Website: https://www.facebook.com/HarakiriForTheSky/

Country: Austria

Score: Wipe your tears with this 4.0/5.0