Pleiades - Affinity With

After a lengthy period of releasing new singles, Manchester based Art-Rock / Post Hardcore outfit Pleiades have finally unveiled their debut album ‘Affinity With’. The band set out to use this body of work to build on their previous post-metal sound and sculpt a more cohesive Post-Hardcore approach whilst also pushing their sound into the weirder corners.

'Narrative' can sometimes be pushed to the background when writing an album but not in this instance. Pleiades have not only created an album that sonically breaches the new corners but also pushes the concept throughout.

Take 'Amos Clift' for example, one of the tracks released on the build up of the album release. It's a frenetic track that builds upon every lasting moment and is very central to the story telling of the album. It's a story from the perspective of lighthouse keeper Amos Clift, observing the Egg War of 1863 in San Francisco where food shortages caused by the population boom from California’s Gold Rush lead to an all out war between rival gangs over seabird eggs on the nearby Farallon Islands.

What is certain about 'Affinity With' is how well Pleiades have managed to not only push the boundaries within the music they are creating now but also how they can translate emotion to the listener. You can hear the impact these stories have had on the band and that's something so refreshing to hear from an album these days, especially a debut! Yes, it's heavy, yes it's technical but the heartfelt impact both the vocal delivery and the musicianship leave you with with is something so special.

Stand out tracks on this record include the captivating 'Universal' a track that pulls on the strings and rises all emotion, the blistering 'Treppenwitz' and album opening 'Honeyguide' which sets the scene before ripping to a climax - a thing of beauty that only gets you excited for what's to come.

I'm very impressed by the new record from Pleiades. The intelligence runs throughout, a brilliant debut from a band many will want to hear more from.

9/10

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