Hermitage

Portentous track titles such as ‘Abyss’ and ‘Echo of Creation’ hint at the nature of this South Korean trio's crusade. The group met while studying traditional music, but resolved to alloy the art-form with post-rock and metal elements, aiming to broaden its appeal.

The traditional Korean instruments add a new register of menace to the standard guitar-led musical arsenal of post-rockers like Mogwai. The deep-strung geomungo (zither) lends sinister undertones to the otherworldly melodies of the oboe-esque piri, and the high-pitched howls of the violin-like haegeum make ‘Deus Benedicat Tibi’ sound like the soundtrack to a ritual sacrifice. At its best, as on the tremolo-guitar-drenched ‘For Everything That You Lost’, Hermitage offers alien soundscapes awash with unusual timbres. However, Jambinai are over-eager to demonstrate their non-conformist credentials. The militaristic metal of ‘Abyss’ approaches parody, pushing for ‘Parental Advisory’ sticker status with the inclusion of a rap section.

This combative album leaves one wondering if there are less iconoclastic ways of re-casting traditional Korean music. The undeniable flashes of class on Hermitage suggest Jambinai have the talent to deliver such in time.