Those who love to delve into the rich history of Quebec, the most vigorous Canadian province in its local variety of music, know that there are many gems hidden in the punk and hardcore scene. In this often wintery cold, we find what interests us, Carey, a particularly melodic band that incorporates and fuels the post-hardcore/post-metal sound. This band comes from a mining region with a lot of history to convey.
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| LABEL: POPRR | RELEASE DATE: 2024/05/31 | LINK: SPOTIFY / BANDCAMP |
"King Beaver Phase One" is not the first album in their career; this new offering would be the fourth effort by the Canadians, and this new opus would be the second "Mixbus Session" by the band. We had already talked about "Fervet Opus" in our first punch pack. This new effort is in the same vein as the latter "Fervet Opus," but far from the depths of the album "Desolation," which leaned more towards Hardcore Punk like Comeback Kid.
Inevitably, Carey plunges us into an atmosphere depicted with glorious moments, transporting us into their devastated identity as their historical narrative of the dark era of the Asbestos mining period is so well told. The precise description of the facts is captivating and deeply immerses the listener in an intense ambiance, inviting us to disconnect from our present moments. It must be said that in addition to the melody, the singer abrasively embodies the poignant emotions, ranging from despair to raging anger.
Carey goes full throttle in deep melody, fusing various influences, oscillating between melodic hardcore, post-metal, post-rock, and the most obvious post-hardcore, a beautiful sound amalgam. The well-chosen riffs overlap gently, without too much overflow, the dose is perfectly aligned in its construction to appreciate the attention to detail paved by the two guitarists. The contrasting work of the bassist's lines is particularly appreciable; they are not too far apart and weave closely among the other musicians' momentum.
Although the three tracks are grouped on the same theme and follow each other to form a well-followed story, the last track of this intriguing trilogy is even more surprising. "The Slow Gears Of Bureaucracy" with guest vocals by François Laplante-Baudette (ex-Mental Fix, Panic Atrack) brings an extra power around 2 minutes and 16 seconds, even a surprising ferocity, knowing his previous projects. The text is more direct than the others, with constant guitar riffs on an impactful rhythm supported by the drum, hammering incisive blows among a few subtle vocal choruses.
It goes without saying that to better understand the atmosphere Carey introduces us to, there is nothing better than a precise visual. The filmed session adds an extra dimension to fully capture the pure essence of the images conveyed in their message. This adds an immersive touch to what they project. This album is well-crafted and becomes a small masterpiece that appeals to those open to entering a melodic hardcore outside the too dull habits of modern post-hardcore bands whose clear voices make you lose interest. Here, Carey does not fall into this outdated cliché. This rather constitutes serious entertainment, an album to be actively considered in your next purchases.
To learn more about this band, do not hesitate to read our recent interview with guitarist Pascal Rouleau.
