When Gaerea emerged out of the pandemic limbo, the masked band came branded with a vision of black metal that was guided, not by myths or pagan beliefs, but a purging of emotion. The world quickly came to share that vision, following them from the gates of Hellfest to tours through China and the United States. But with their upcoming fourth opus, Coma, Gaerea are no longer strictly black metal. Though once again produced by trusted confidant Miguel Tereso, Coma broadens their signature sound by taking it in two seemingly opposed directions; there are more moments of intense beauty, but they only heighten the ensuing blows. The previously released first single off of their new record, “World Ablaze”, ignited this new era of Gaerea by holding a more conventional song structure over fiery tremolo picking, while the second single, “Hope Shatters”, upends even the loftiest of fan expectations; after the song collapses under its blistering heaviness, the melody hangs perilously in the air, like a swaying chandelier, before it’s smashed to pieces by hammering bass and concussive blast beats. “Welcome to the urban abyss”, Gaerea’s veiled vocalist shared. “Where dreams turn to rust”. The track is paired with a dazzling new music video directed by Dariusz Szermanowicz for Grupa 13 – you can watch it below this article. The clip frames the band’s musical devastation and their meticulous, comprehensive approach to detail. With Coma, Gaerea surface to the top and assert a new level of metallic mastery and unrelenting extremity.
Coma will be released on October 25th via Season of Mist. Pre-orders are now available here.
Photo credit: Chantik Photography
