Milanku – Pris a la Gorge Review + Stream

Hailing from Montreal, Canada, Milanku offer a great mixture of the post metal sound, more specifically bands such as Isis and Cult of Luna, and the hardcore energy of acts like Envy. The result is Pris a la Gorge, a fifty-minute long journey through melancholic soundscapes. Even though a quite gloomy feeling is hovering over this release, there also seems to be an almost uplifting sense of realization, or rather a sensation of awakening. And that is where Milanku are really nailing it, because they present a glimpse of hope, a last chance towards catharsis in the core of Pris a la Gorge.

One of the main points of Pris a la Gorge are the calming post metal melodies that Milanku are so cunningly crafting. There are cases when they are just trying to mesmerize you, for example in “Lincination”, or evoke emotions, for instance with “Inhibition”. However they choose to use those melodic parts, the band is able to bring forth immense soundscapes, creating an encircling sensation around the listener. Of course, most of the time those parts find the same end, when highly distorted guitars come in, like sound waves crashing in an ocean of droning, mesmerizing melodies. For instance, in “La Chute”, when the distortion appears, it really hits hard. The terrifying realization comes then: Milanku are not able to just conjure ambient parts aided by their melodies, but they are also capable of shaping towering walls of sound, trying to suffocate the life out of you.

But what really separates Milanku and brings them a few steps closer to the great post rock/metal acts is their ability to shape their tracks. You see, the band approaches their songs as if they are building a sonic construct. They choose to take their time, starting off from the very foundations of the track, slowly introducing new elements and then moving forward. The process becomes almost addictive after a few listens, giving Pris a la Gorge a unique sense of continuity and unbroken progression. For instance, in “La Nausee”, Milanku start off with some swirling, nauseating guitar parts that slowly evolve, accompanied by vocals (more like spoken parts), until the true storm comes in. While the band’s music remains mostly instrumental, the band adds a few voices when necessary. That can be either in the form of spoken parts to educe the essential ambiance or extreme growls to give the crucial impact to some parts. Of similar praise is “Antalgie,” which retains a more ritualistic vibe while constructing its slow, heavy and filled with emotions sound. The melodic parts are brought back in to deconstruct the song.

And Milanku reach their peak with “Hypomanie”. The longest track of the album begins with a mournful minimalistic intro that constantly builds up the tension. An array of sounds is laid out in front of you with an uncanny melody appearing about six minutes in, and soon after Milanku lay waste with their distorted guitars. Reality seems to be drifting away and all that remains are the soundscapes and ethereal melodies.

Even with tracks like “Dopamine”, with its surprising driving quality, and “Antigone”, which closes the album in a dreamlike manner, Milanku show that they have what it takes to create a great album. Pris a la Gorge is an excellent sonic trip of enthralling beauty and unreal ambiance.