ALBUM REVIEW: Palmer - "Surrounding The Void"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 24/02/2017

Label: Czar of Bullets

Over the course of an hour, the band chart an ever-shifting course through crushing riffs, head-scratching math metal, serene post-rock and immense soundscapes. It’s an exhilarating journey that makes me wonder how a band of this quality have stayed under the radar for so long.  It’s definitely time for Palmer to emerge from the shadows to gain the respect they deserve.

“Surrounding The Void” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Home Is Where I Lead You
2. Misery 

3. Divergent

4. Artein
5. Digital Individual
6. Fate_Hope
7. Import Unity
8. Rising
9. Implosion

The Review:

Swiss post-metal powerhouse, Palmer, celebrate their sixteenth year of existence with a monstrous new LP, “Surrounding The Void”.Over the course of an hour, the band chart an ever-shifting course through crushing riffs, head-scratching math metal, serene post-rock and immense soundscapes. It’s an exhilarating journey that makes me wonder how a band of this quality have stayed under the radar for so long.

“Home Is Where I Lead You” is a bold opening statement, an epic construction of whirlwind riffs and swings in mood that recalls much-missed compatriots Kruger and Knut. There are also hints of the mammoth compositions of Zatokrev, whose Frederyk Rotter released “Surrounding The Void” via his Czar of Bullets label. “Misery” and “Digital Individual” inflict similar damage while “Divergent” and “Rising” find Palmer sprawling into the outer limits. These two behemoths push the ten minute mark, with the former embracing droned-out cosmic sounds, while the latter culminates in an almost-anthemic, melodic climax.

“Artein” shows Palmer are equally effective when exercising restraint. An understated instrumental that subtly twists and turns, the band show they can be captivating without having to resort to cheap quiet/loud post-rock tricks. Subdued closer “Implosion” exists in the same realm, building layers of hypnotic guitar into a tower of ambient sound, charred around the edges by smouldering distortion.

“Import Unity” is the only slight mis-step here, an attempt at a more concise straight-ahead metal track that doesn’t quite come off. The virtuoso shredding at the end of the track is particularly jarring and at odds with the rest of the LP. 

“Surrounding The Void” is a complex beast that covers a wide sonic spectrum from dense heaviness to spectral calm. It’s definitely time for Palmer to emerge from the shadows to gain the respect they deserve.

“Surrounding The Void” is available here

Band info: official|| facebook

VIDEO PREMIERE: Antithetical Swiss post-metal conglomerate Palmer deliver "Divergent"

Palmer- a band persistently forging their sound towards perfection for the last 16 years. This Swiss quartet is no typical four-four time metal combo straight off the rack. Palmer’s sound oscillates somewhere between post-metal and prog-rock with spherical timbres. This band works intuitively and without restraints and their creations reflect an energy of immediate presence.

Their new album ‘Surrounding The Void’contains 9 songs that boast originality. Inspired by di­fferent niches from the world of extreme metal, prog-rock, jazz and ambient sounds, Palmer have always followed their own distinct path, continually looking towards the future and pursuing their own individual Soundscape. ‘Surrounding The Void’ reflects Palmer’stypical aspects such as tension, relief and extreme dynamics. These core aspects are immediately apparent on the new album and seem even more mature and distinct.

‘Surrounding The Void’ is due for world wide release on 24^th February 2017 through Czar of Bullets and you can check out the brilliant new video for “Divergent” below.  If you’re a fans of Gojira, Knut, Tool, Mastodon, Voivod, Isis set a soundtrack of Philip K Dick movie, then this is the band for you.  For the record, this album slays.  Be sure to buy/preorder the album here

Band info: official|| facebook