Beneath a Steel Sky – Cleave

It’s been a good week for releases and the Catto life, which is why we need to end it with something urban, decadent, and utterly depressing. Too much joy can spoil the soul, and Beneath a Steel Sky‘s album Cleave delivers the perfect antidote. This release promises to delve into your most painful memories and craft art from them. With my love for crushing Post-Metal—almost rivaling my affection for Finnish Death/Doom—let’s dive into this urban wasteland.

Cleave feels like a reflection on the mediocrity of the world, a mirror for what works and what doesn’t. Despite its sadness and atmospheric tones, the album wields its simple tools with stunning efficiency. If you’ve ever been frustrated by other Post-Metal bands spending too much time meandering in their compositions, this album cuts through the noise. Beneath a Steel Sky presents an album that focuses on agony and cathartic release, blending Post-Metal with a Death/Doom spirit.

The minimalist intros slowly build into furious, cathartic moments of release. Cleave is never in a rush—it thrives in mid-tempo comfort, prioritizing emotional depth over sheer brutality. It paints a vivid picture of grey skies, brutalist architecture, dead-end jobs, and shattered dreams. Though originally an instrumental project, the growled vocals elevate the music, transforming its mellow sections into powerful, rebellious statements. This album doesn’t aim to impress with flashy shredding or complexity; it’s a cohesive, impactful whole that conveys its message with raw simplicity.

That said, the songwriting could dare to take more risks. The formula works beautifully, but it leaves you craving further exploration of its potential. This blend of influences from Isis, The Ocean, and Cult of Luna shows immense promise, and the band has the talent to match the bold strides those giants have taken. Cleave also demands the right mindset to fully appreciate its reflective and dramatic tones, but isn’t it worth softening the toughness now and then?

There’s still space for vulnerability in my cold feline heart, and Beneath a Steel Sky fills some of it with Cleave. It’s not a perfect album, but it’s deeply engaging and leaves me eager to see the band grow into the powerhouse it’s destined to be. Plus, is it just me, or is the digital album only a quid on Bandcamp? Seriously, with that price, you’ve got nothing to lose.

Label: Ripcord Records

Release date: January 24, 2025

Website: https://beneathasteelsky1.bandcamp.com/album/cleave

Country: Scotland

Score: 3.7/5.0 for now!